The year-on-year inflation rate at the national level advanced to 3.8 percent in August from 3.2 percent in July. The uptrend was due to higher annual increases posted in the five commodity groups namely: food and non-alcoholic beverages; clothing and footwear; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house; and transport. Inflation a year ago was 4.6 percent.