TEHRAN -- Iran's inflation rose by 15.3 percent in a year to the Iranian month of 'Mehr' (September 23-October 22), according to the Central Bank of Iran.

Inflation in urban areas, which marks the index nationwide, was down by 0.2 percent, however, in Mehr this year compared to the previous month of 'Shahrivar' (August 23-September 22), said the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) in its update, a copy of which was made available to IRNA on Sunday.

The price index for consumer goods and services in urban areas, also known as the inflation index, showed a fresh rise of 14.8 percent in the first seven months of the current Iranian year (started March 21), compared to the figure for the same period last year.

Inflation was up 11.5 percent in the first seven months of last year compared to that in the corresponding period the year before.

Based on the CBI's report, inflation rate for the period from September 23, 2001 to October 22, 2002, was up 13.4 percent compared to the similar period last year.

The price index was up for six groups of goods and services in a year ending Mehr, excluding that for transportation and communication, which decreased by 0.2 percent. The index for foodstuff, beverages and tobacco declined by 2.2 percent, fresh fruits by 11.8 percent, and chicken by 15.3 percent in Mehr compared to Shahrivar.

The price index for red meat and eggs rose by 1.8 and 2.7 percent in the period under study.

The report cited 0.4 percent growth in price index for textiles, 0.9 percent for housing, fuel and chandelier, 0.5 percent for furniture and house appliances, 0.2 percent for medicare, 3.7 percent for recreation, education and study and 0.3 percent for miscellaneous goods and services compared with the preceding month.