LUSAKA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's annual inflation rate rose by 0.3 percentage points in August to 8.1 percent, the country's statistics agency said on Thursday.

Combining the average prices of goods and services, the annual inflation rate in August, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose from 7.8 percent a month earlier, according to the Central Statistical Office.

The increase in inflation was mainly influenced by a rise in prices of both food and non-food items, the agency said in a statement.

The CSO Acting Director Goodson Sinyenga said in the monthly media briefing that some of the food and non-food items affecting the inflation included mielie-meal, purchase of vehicles and charcoal, among others.