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By Nelson Banya

ZIMBABWE'S inflation rate rose to a new record of 7 982.1% year-on-year in September, from 6 592.8% in August, driven by non-food items, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) said on Wednesday.

The month-on-month inflation rate climbed 38.7% in September, the CSO said.

Zimbabwe's inflation figure remains the world's highest rate despite a controversial price freeze imposed in June by President Robert Mugabe in a bid to stem runaway price increases.

The CSO said non-food inflation drove inflation higher in September, while food inflation was marginally lower. It said rising water, housing, electricity, transport and health costs were behind the latest price rises.

"Year-on-year food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation stood at 7 759%, 149.1 percentage points down from the August 2007 figure of 7 908.1%, while non-food inflation was 8 096.7% ... from the August figure of 5 983.9%," the CSO said.- Reuters

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