Italy's annual inflation rate reached 8.9 per cent in September, up from 8.4 per cent in August, according to preliminary data released by ISTAT on Friday.

The national statistics agency said that this time food-price hikes, rather than energy-bill increases, were the driving force of the increase.

Indeed, the trolley index of everyday goods such as food and household items was up 11.5 per cent in year-on-year terms in September, the highest level since it reached 12.2 per cent in July 1983.