VIENNA, Sept. 16 -- Inflation in Austria remained over the high level of 9 percent in August, Statistics Austria said on Friday.

At 9.3 percent, inflation in August was 0.1 percentage points lower than the revised July inflation rate of 9.4 percent. However, energy and food prices have continued to soar despite anti-inflation government policies, Statistics Austria said.

The slight month-on-month decline was due to fuel prices, which fell by 10.4 percent compared to July. However, although statistics Austria said the August inflation rate would have stood at 9.9 percent without the decline in fuel prices, they remain the strongest driver of annual inflation.

"The trend of rising prices remained unbroken for household energy, food and restaurants," said Tobias Thomas, director general of Statistics Austria.

The Austrian government has introduced several packages of measures to combat inflation, including increasing social benefits for the unemployed and other vulnerable groups.

  - Xinhua