Egypt’s annual headline inflation rate climbed to 8% in September 2021, compared to September 2020’s 3.3%, states the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

The annual headline rate recorded at 6.4% in August 2021, up compared to July’s 6.1%.

Annual urban consumer price inflation jumped to 6.6% in September, up from 5.7% in August which marked a 17-month high by hitting its highest rate since November 2020.

The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 1.6% to 116.1 points during September, revealed CAPMAS, compared to 114.3 points in August 2021.

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The non-petroleum sector is still in contraction, despite increased optimism by companies towards future business activity in in September, recording 48.9 in September, its lowest in four months.

Inflation was attributed to increase in prices of vegetables (23.5%), meat and pourtly (3.2%), fruits (1.7%), dairy products and eggs (0.8%).

Other indicators were the increased prices of outpatient clinic services by 0.7%, hospital services by 0.7%, medical equipment and products by 0.4%, private transportation fees by 0.9%, transportation services by 0.2%, and ready-made meals by 0.6%.

CAPMAS added the restaurant and hotels sector saw a small increase of 0.6% as prices of ready-made meals and hotel services go up by 0.6%.