2010.09.2807:18:00UTC+00Belgium Inflation Quickens In September

Annual consumer price inflation in Belgium accelerated to 2.91% in September from 2.32% in August, the National Institute of Statistics said Tuesday.

The price growth was mainly driven by higher prices of fruits and vegetables as well as energy. However, the increase in prices was partly offset by lower costs of holiday villages and hotel rooms. On a monthly basis, prices increased 0.32%.

Energy prices rose 14% year-on-year in September compared to 9% growth in the previous month. Rate of inflation, excluding energy prices, was only 1.64% in September compared to 1.5% in August.

Besides energy prices, fruits and vegetables also contributed to inflation. Fresh fruit prices rose 10% annually while vegetables were 35% more expensive than in September last year.

During the month, prices of natural gas rose 6.1% on a monthly basis and prices of fresh vegetables were up 8.3%. Fuel prices rose 0.4%. At the same time, with the end of summer holidays, cost of stay in holiday villages dropped 34% month-on-month and prices of hotel rooms declined 5%.

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