Bahrain inflation edged up to 3.1 per cent year-on-year in September as the food prices rose along with housing and utility costs compared to last month, according to a report.

The housing and utility costs, which account for 24 per cent of consumer expenses, rose 7.1 per cent year-on-year in September and 0.2 per cent month-on-month, said a report released by Bahrain's statistics office.

The prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which account for 16 per cent of the basket, rose 2.4 per cent on an annual basis and 2.8 per cent from the previous month, the report added.

The analysts polled by Reuters in September expected average inflation of 3.1 per cent in 2013 and 3 per cent in 2014, up from 2.8 per cent in 2012.-Reuters