Kamenz (dpa/sn) – The annual inflation rate “in all likelihood” exceeded the ten percent mark in Saxony in October. This was announced by the State Statistical Office on Friday. According to a first estimate, the rate was 10.1 percent. Annual taxes of this magnitude were last determined for Saxony in 1993.

According to the information, the prices for food (22.3 percent) and non-alcoholic beverages (12.6 percent) rose very significantly. Consumers had to pay significantly more for sunflower and rapeseed oil (91.3 percent), wheat flour (67.3 percent), butter (63.9 percent) and quark (61.6 percent). Furniture and household accessories also became significantly more expensive, as did more money for housing, water, electricity and gas.

Compared to September, Saxon consumer prices are expected to have risen by 1.2 percent. According to the statistics office, the reduction in value-added tax from 19 to 7 percent for natural gas, which came into effect in October, was not able to compensate for the price increases estimated by the energy suppliers.