Austria's annual inflation at 10.5% in September on surging energy prices

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Austria's annual consumer inflation rose to 10.5% in September fueled by surging household energy prices, according to a final reading from the country's statistical office on Wednesday.

The September figure, up from 9.3% in August, has exceeded the 10% mark for the first time since Oct. 1974, the Statistics Austria data showed.

Prices of housing, water and energy went up by 19.8% year-on-year in September.

"Fuel prices, which remained at a high level, were thus relegated to second place among the price drivers. Prices for food and restaurants also continued to rise strongly compared to the previous year," said Statistics Austria Director General Tobias Thomas.

Transport prices rose by 17.5% compared to a year earlier in September, and food and non-alcoholic beverages prices climbed 13.9% in the same period.

On a monthly basis, Austria's consumer prices index increased by 1.6% in September.