Slovenia's annual inflation rate accelerated to 3.3% in September (chart) from 2.6% a year earlier, while consumer prices edged down 0.1% month-on-month, the statistics office said on September 30.

Services prices increased 4.1% year-on-year in September, while goods prices rose 2.9%. Prices of non-durable goods increased 4.5% and semi-durable goods by 0.8%, while durable goods became 1.5% cheaper.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded the largest annual price increase, rising 8.8% and contributing 1.1 percentage points (pp) to overall inflation.

Transport prices increased 6.3%, adding 1 pp to inflation. Recreation, sport and culture prices rose 3.8%, contributing 0.4 pp, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco became 4.9% more expensive, adding 0.3 pp.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.1%, largely due to seasonal declines in tourism-related prices. Package holidays became 15.6% cheaper towards the end of the summer season, reducing monthly inflation by 0.8 pp.

Accommodation services fell 5.3% and motor car prices declined 1.6%, each contributing 0.1 pp to the monthly deflation.

The decline was partly offset by a 12.2% increase in clothing prices as retailers ended summer sales and introduced autumn-winter collections, adding 0.5 pp to monthly inflation.

Fuel and lubricant prices for personal transport equipment increased 3.7%, contributing 0.2 pp, while liquid fuel prices rose 5.2% and prices in canteens and cafeterias increased 5.4%.

Under the harmonised index of consumer prices used for EU comparisons, Slovenia's annual inflation rate was 3.7% in September, up from 2.7% a year earlier. On a monthly basis, harmonised consumer prices increased 0.3%.

Under the harmonised measure, services prices rose 4.0% year-on-year and goods prices increased 3.4%. Non-durable goods prices rose 5.4%, semi-durable goods by 1%, while durable goods prices fell 1.7%.