Prices in the sector of housing, water, electricity and liquid gas in Cyprus recorded the second highest increase in the EU in August 2010.

According to Eurostat data released on Thursday, prices in Cyprus increased by 13.5% against an increase of 2.6% that the euro area average was and +2.5% in EU27. The biggest increase of 13.9% was observed in Slovenia.

Other high increase sin the sector were seen in Greece (+10.8%) and Malta (+10.7%).

Decreases were observed in two member states only, Slovakia (-1.4%) and Ireland (-0.3%).

In other categories of goods and services, the price of food and non alcoholic drinks in Cyprus rose 6% while the euro area average grew by 1.1% and the EU average by 1.7%.

The increase in education was higher than the EU average too (+4.9%).

Decreases were registered in the sector of leisure and culture (-0.7%) and furniture and house equipment (-0.1%).