China's consumer prices were up 1.3 percent in the first three quarters over the same period last year, said the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.

The growth rate was the same as that in the first six months and 0.1 percentage point higher than the January-August period, said the NBS.

The growth rate was half a percentage point lower than that of the whole of last year.

In September, consumer prices rose 1.5 percent over September last year, 0.2 percentage point up from August.

In the first three quarters, consumer prices rose 1.3 percent in urban areas and 1.2 percent in rural areas over the same period last year.

Food prices rose by 1.8 percent and service prices by two percent.

Housing prices were up 4.7 percent, and medical services were up 1.1 percent.

Meanwhile, prices of transport and communications equipment were both down 0.2 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)