Inflation in Italy surges to new high

ROME, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Prices in Italy were 8.4 percent higher in August than they were a year earlier, a level that had not been recorded since December 1985, the country's National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) reported Wednesday.

Preliminary data from ISTAT showed prices in August were 0.8 percent higher than in July.

Energy-related goods were the main factor behind the jump, ISTAT said, with a ye