Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – More expensive food in particular continued to drive the inflation rate in North Rhine-Westphalia in August. The inflation rate rose from 7.8 percent in July to 8.1 percent in August, as announced by the State Statistical Office IT.NRW on Tuesday. Lettuce and pizza, for example, became significantly more expensive.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, energy prices in particular rose: heating oil, for example, rose by a total of almost 87 percent. In addition, the prices of numerous foods such as quark (plus 57.8 percent), cucumbers (48.8 percent), butter (43.6 percent) and pasta (42.0 percent) also rose.

According to IT.NRW, the 9-euro ticket had a dampening effect in August compared to the previous year. Overall, the prices for “combined passenger transport” fell by a good two-thirds (68.4 percent). Outpatient and inpatient care also became somewhat cheaper.