Consumer prices in the OECD area rose by 4.5% in the year to September 2008, compared with 4.7% in the year to August 2008. Month-on-month, the price level remained stable in September, compared with a decrease of 0.1% in August.

Consumer prices for energy were up by 18.9% in the year to September, compared with 20.9% in August and consumer prices for food were up by 6.8% compared with 7.1% in August. Excluding food and energy, consumer prices rose by 2.4% in the year to September, compared with 2.3% in August.

In the euro area, the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) was up by 3.6% in the year to September, compared with 3.8% in the year to August. Month-on-month, the HICP in the euro area increased by 0.2% in September, following a decrease of 0.1% in August. Excluding food and energy, the year-on-year rise in the HICP in the euro area amounted to 1.9% in September, unchanged from August.

In the United States, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 4.9% over the year to September, compared with 5.4% in the year to August.

In Japan, consumer prices were up by 2.1% year-on-year in September, unchanged from August.

Over the year to September, consumer prices rose by 5.2% in the United Kingdom, 3.8% in Italy, 3.4% in Canada, 3.0% in France and 2.9% in Germany.