Italy's annual rate of inflation rose to its highest level for a year in October as prices of bread and energy all saw substantial hikes, national statistics bureau Istat said on Wednesday.
October inflation was 2.1%, according to Istat's provisional estimate for the 12-month period. This compared to 1.7 in September and 1.6% in August.
The last time annual inflation rose to 2.1% was in September 2006.
The jump in prices between September and October was also higher than usual. Istat put the climb at 0.4%, the highest monthly increase since July 2005.
The yearly and monthly rates, when harmonised with European standards, came out at 2.3% and 0.8% respectively.
The main culprits for the swift rise in the inflation rate were higher prices for bread, pasta, electricity and gas, Istat said, noting that bread went up 10% in October after rising 7.5% the previous month.
Energy prices meanwhile went up 2.9% year-on-year in October, after a 0.1% dip the previous month.
Meanwhile in Brussels Eurostat reported that inflation throughout the 13-nation euro zone rose sharply in October, reaching 2.6%, compared to 2.1% in September and 1.7% in August.
If the Eurostat estimates are confirmed, it would be the highest rate in 'Euroland' since September 2005. The last time inflation in the area was higher was in June 2001.
