Bulgaria's basic shopping basket cost 0.7% more in September than in August, the CITUB trade union says. Violeta Ivanova, deputy head of the union's Institute for Social and Trade Union Research and Training, said the basket cost 62.02 euros in September, up from 61.63 euros in August.

The basket CITUB tracks holds 20 food items and one non-food product. The union says the rise came mainly from higher petrol prices and the start of the seasonal rise in fruit and vegetable prices.

Petrol cost 3.2% more than in August. Cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes and apples saw the biggest price rises, but basic food staples also cost more.