Erfurt (dpa/th) – Rising prices for energy and food also drove inflation in Thuringia in August. The annual inflation rate climbed to 8.0 percent after 7.6 percent in July, as the State Statistical Office announced on Monday in Erfurt. Compared to the previous month, consumer prices rose by an average of 0.3 percent in August.

Energy products have become more expensive by 33.9 percent compared to the previous year, it said. The strongest increases were seen in heating oil (plus 114.2 percent), district heating (plus 62.9 percent), gas (plus 55.4 percent) and solid fuels (plus 52.2 percent). Fuels increased 17.3 percent year-on-year.

According to the announcement, further above-average price increases were found for food and non-alcoholic beverages with an increase of 17.3 percent. The prices for edible fats and oils (up 47.6 percent), dairy products and eggs (up 29.2 percent), bread and cereal products (up 19.0 percent) and meat and meat products (up 17.6 percent) were significantly higher than in the previous year ) located.