Greek annual inflation rate was 0.7 pct in September, the National Statistical Service said on Thursday. The statistics service, in its monthly report, said the inflation rate -measured by the consumer price index- rose 1.9 pct in September from August 2009.

   The report attributed the 0.7 pct rise in the consumer price index to a 6.3 pct increase in alcohol/tobacco prices, a 4.1 pct rise in other goods and services, a 3.0 pct increase in clothing and footwear, a 2.9 pct rise in health prices and a 2.8 pct increase in education prices. Housing prices fell 4.9 pct and transport prices fell 3.7 pct in September.

    Commenting on the figures, the secretary-general of the statistics service Manolis Kontopyrakis said he expected the October inflation figure to rise because of an increase in fuel prices.

    Greece's harmonised inflation rate was 0.7 pct in September, while the country's core inflation rate rose 1.4 pct in September compared with the corresponding month last year.