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HUNGARY CPI RISES TO 3.6% IN SEPTEMBER

Consumer prices in Hungary rose by an annual 3.6% in September, accelerating from a 3.4% increase in the previous month, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said. The headline figure — a more than five-year peak — was lifted by higher prices for vehicle fuel, food and tobacco, KSH said. Tobacco prices were raised by an excise tax increase. Food prices rose by 4.6%, including a 21.2% jump in seasonal food prices. The price of spirits and tobacco climbed 5.1%. Clothing prices edged up 0.4%, household energy prices were up by 1.5% and services prices rose by 1.8%. Prices in the category of goods that includes vehicle fuel climbed 7.1% as vehicle fuel prices rose by 14.9%. Consumer durable prices edged down
0.1% . Seasonally-adjusted core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, rose by 2.4%. CPI harmonised for better comparison with other European Union member states was 3.7%. Calculating with a basket of goods and services used by pensioners, CPI was 3.3%. Excluding the effect of tax changes, consumer prices rose by 4%. In a month-on-month comparison, prices edged up 0.3%. Food prices rose by 0.5%, spirits and tobacco prices rose by 0.7% mainly on the higher excise duty, and clothing prices rose by 2.1% as the summer sales were over. Household energy prices increased by 0.3%, and vehicle fuel prices rose by 1.3%. The price of services dropped by 0.4%. For the period January-September,
consumer prices were up by 2.7% year-on-year.