ROME, Oct 28 — Italian inflation jumped in October, up 11.9 per cent on the year, the highest rate since March 1984, according to a provisional estimate Friday by national statistics office Istat.
The increase — compared to a rise of 8.9 percent in September — was fuelled by soaring energy costs, linked to the war in Ukraine.
The price of energy rose 73.2 per cent in October, compared to a rise of 44.5 per cent the month previously, according to Istat.
Food prices also keep going up, with a 13.1 per cent increase in October, compared to 11.4 per cent in September.
The Bank of Italy expects inflation to be on average 8.5 per cent higher in 2022 than the previous year, before falling back as energy prices stabilise, to 6.5 per cent in 2023 and 2.3 per cent in 2024.
New Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to provide further help for households and businesses struggling with high energy prices. — AFP
