The country's year-on-year inflation rate based on the General Wholesale Price Index (GWPI) grew by 0.8 percent in August, the same rate recorded in July. Annual inflation rates of beverages and tobacco and miscellaneous manufactured articles were correspondingly higher at 2.0 percent and 0.9 percent from 1.8 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the annual rate of change in the prices of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials was still negative at -7.3 percent from -8.0 percent. Moreover, slower annual price increases were observed in food items at 3.7 percent from 3.9 percent; crude materials, inedible except fuels, 10.8 percent from 14.3 percent; chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats, 5.4 percent from 6.1 percent; and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials, 5.0 percent from 5.1 percent while inflation for machinery and transport equipment moved at its last month's rate of 0.2 percent.