According to data by Kuwait’s Central Statistical Office, inflation in the Gulf state accelerated in August to its fastest pace in more than a year as the costs of food and housing increased, Bloomberg has reported. The inflation rate rose to 4.4% from 4% in the previous month, the highest since May 2009. Food prices increased 10.8% compared with 8.5% in July while housing increased 4.7%, the same as in the previous month, the data showed.