The upward trend in inflation slowed again in September this year as it rose to 1.6% from a 2.7% increase in August and against a 12% increase in September last year. Slowdown, due solely to energy prices, as well as to food and foodstuffs resulted in further price appreciation of 9.4%.

In particular, in an annual comparison, there were appreciations in:

  • Bread and cereals (4.8%),
  • Meats – general (8.4%),
  • Fish – general (4.1%),
  • Dairy and eggs (6.7%),
  • Oils and fats (16.1%),
  • Fruits – general (13.9%),
  • Vegetables – general (17.7%),
  • Sugar – chocolates – sweets – ice creams (8.2%),
  • Other food (9.1%),
  • Coffee- cocoa- tea (6%),
  • Mineral water – soft drinks – fruit juices (13.9%) and
  • Alcoholic drinks – not served (5.7%).

Also, prices moved up in:

  • Clothing and footwear (6.2%),
  • Residential rents (6.3%),
  • Home repair and maintenance (3%),
  • Solid fuels (19.2%),
  • Household appliances and repairs (2%),
  • Glassware – tableware and household utensils (5.4%),
  • Items of immediate household consumption (3.3%),
  • Household services (7.2%),
  • Pharmaceutical products (11.8%),
  • Medical-dental and paramedical services (5.5%),
  • Hospital care (0.9%),
  • New cars (3%),
  • Used cars (9%),
  • Car parts and accessories (6.6%),
  • Fuels and lubricants (0.9%),
  • Maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment (5.3%),
  • Transport of passengers by plane (7.9%),
  • Leisure and cultural durable goods (2.2%),
  • Small leisure items – flowers – pets (5.8%),
  • Cinemas-theaters (10.6%),
  • Holiday package (9.1%),
  • Primary education (3.8%),
  • Secondary education (3.5%),
  • Restaurants- patisserie- cafes- canteens (5.6%),
  • Hairdressers and personal care shops (4%),
  • Other types of personal care (1.8%),
  • Health insurance premiums (5.7%) and
  • Vehicle insurance premiums (2.1%).

On the contrary, the prices fell in:

  • Natural gas (82%),
  • Heating oil (20.7%),
  • Telephone services (3.5%) and
  • Electricity (1.2%).

Between September and August, the price increase in Natural gas stands out by (14.4%), while there were new price increases in: Cereals for breakfast (5.2%), Olive oil (6.7%), Other edible oils (6%), Fresh Vegetables (10.2%), Household Textiles (5.2%), House Rents (0.6%), Fuels and Lubricants (2.4%), Primary Education (3.1 %), Secondary education (3.1%), Restaurants-patisseries-cafes-canteens (1.3%) and Hotels-motels-inns (5.1%).

In contrast, prices fell in: Alcoholic beverages not served (0.8%), ‘Other bakery and confectionery products (1.7%), Beef (0.6%), Dairy and eggs (2.2%), Vegetables frozen (3.8%), Sugar – chocolates – sweets – ice cream (1%), Electricity (0.4%), Household goods (1.3%), Other personal care items (2.8%) and Transportation of passengers by plane (10.9%).

As announced by ELSTAT, the increase in the general consumer price index in September came mainly from the changes in the following groups of goods and services:

1. From the increases of the indicators by:

*9.4% in the “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” group, due to price increases mainly in: bread and cereals, meats (general), fish (general), dairy and eggs, oils and fats, fruits (general), vegetables (general), sugar- chocolates- sweets- ice creams, other food, coffee- cocoa- tea, mineral water- soft drinks- fruit juices.

*2.5% in the “Alcoholic beverages and tobacco” group, due mainly to an increase in prices of alcoholic beverages (not served).

*6.2% in the “Clothing and footwear” group, due to price increases in clothing and footwear.

*3.7% in the group “Durable goods – Household goods and services”, due to an increase in prices mainly in: household appliances and repairs, glassware – tableware and household utensils, goods for immediate household consumption, household services.

*5.6% in the “Health” group, due to price increases mainly in: pharmaceutical products, medical-dental and paramedical services, hospital care.

*3% in the “Transportation” group, due to price increases mainly in: new cars, used cars, car parts and accessories, fuel and lubricants, maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, air passenger tickets.

*3.1% in the Leisure-Cultural activities group, mainly due to price increases in: durable leisure and cultural goods, small leisure items- flowers- pets, cinemas- theaters, package holidays.

*3% in the “Education” group, mainly due to price increases in: primary education fees, secondary education fees.

*4.8% in the “Hotels-Cafes-Restaurants” group, mainly due to an increase in prices in restaurants-confectioneries-cafes-canteens.

*2.4% in the “Other goods and services” group, mainly due to price increases in: hair salons and personal care stores, other personal care items, health insurance premiums, vehicle insurance premiums.

2. From the reduction of the index by:

*15% in the “Housing” group, due to a reduction in prices mainly in: electricity, natural gas, heating oil. Part of this decrease was offset by the increase in prices mainly in: house rents, house repair and maintenance, solid fuels.

*3.1% in the “Communications” group, mainly due to a decrease in prices for telephone services.

In a month-on-month comparison, the general index showed an increase of 1.8% in September 2023 compared to August 2023, compared to a 2.9% increase recorded in the corresponding comparison of the previous year.

As for harmonized inflation, it increased by 2.4% in September this year compared to the corresponding month last year, compared to a 12.1% increase recorded during the corresponding comparison in 2022 with 2021. At the same time, the harmonized index showed an increase of 1, 9% in September 2023 compared to August 2023, compared to an increase of 3% in the corresponding comparison of the previous year.