VALLETTA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Malta's retail price index (RPI) dropped to 1.2 percent in September, down from 1.5 percent in August, according to data released by the National Statistics Office on Monday.
This marks a significant decline compared to September 2023, when the inflation rate stood at 4.1 percent.
The largest upward pressure on inflation in September came from the food index, largely driven by higher prices in restaurant services. Other notable contributors were the "other goods and services" index and the personal care and health index, influenced by rising insurance costs and the increased price of personal hygiene products.
On the other hand, downward contributions to the inflation rate came from the transport and communication sector, as well as the furnishings, household equipment, and clothing sectors. These declines were primarily due to lower prices in mobile phone services, household appliances, and clothing, respectively.
