The gauge marked an increase of 3.20% compared to the end of 2017. 

Ten out of 11 commodity groups, which are components of the basket for CPI calculation, witnessed monthly hikes in prices, of which, education posted the highest increase of 5.07%. 

Prices of other groups also picked up such as food and catering services (0.44%); foodstuff (0.51%); housing, water and electricity supply, and construction materials (0.2%); culture, entertainment, and tourism (0.09%); beverages and cigarettes (0.09%); household equipment and appliances (0.13%); medicine and healthcare services (0.04%); goods and other services (0.14%); garment, footwear and hat group (0.11%). 

Transportations costs increased by 0.82% in September as a result of two increases in fuel retail prices on September 6 and September 21. 

Post and telecommunications service price was the only commodity group and service that experienced a decline, by 0.08%.

Overall, the CPI expanded 3.57% year-on-year in the first nine months, against the government target of 4%. 

According to the GSO, core inflation in September picked up 0.14% month-on-month, resulting in an increase of 1.61% year-on-year on average in the January – September period. 

This led to an increase of 1.41% in the core inflation rate in the first nine months compared to the same period of 2017.