The PN said that according to the NSO, the largest increase that contributed to the annual rate of the cost of living going up again last month was the rise in food and beverage prices. "This statement on the Retail Price Index (RPI) is confirmation that the prices of the most essential items for Maltese families remain among the fastest rising, and that the Maltese continue to face ever-increasing costs. The cost-of-living rate for August not only increased compared with July (2.4%) but also rose significantly compared with August 2024 when it stood at 1.5%, the PN said. The PN said that it will continue to speak on behalf of those who today cannot keep up with the cost of living, and on behalf of businesses that need support. The PN statement was signed by Ivan Castillo, Shadow Minister for Maritime Affairs, Social Dialogue, and the Fight Against Rising Cost of Living, and Albert Buttigieg, Shadow Minister for the Family and Social Services