Italian inflation surges above 4%, in headache for PM Meloni

ROME, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Italian EU-harmonised consumer prices (HICP) rose 2.0% in September from the month before, with the annual inflation rate jumping to 4.1%, from August's 3.2% amid sky-high energy costs due to turmoil in the Middle East.

The jump in inflation makes life harder for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is trying to find ways to curb energy costs for families and firms amid public discontent over the cost of living ahead of a national election due next year.

The year-on-year reading - the highest in three years - was significantly above a median forecast of 3.8% in a Reuters survey of 17 analysts. The survey pointed to a 1.8% month-on-month increase.

Official statistics agency ISTAT also reported on Wednesday that the main domestic price index (NIC) was up 0.7% month-on-month in September and up 4.2% annually, following a 3.3% annual rate in August.

Core inflation (net of fresh food and energy) was running at 1.6% year-on-year on the HICP index in September, accelerating from 1.4% in August.

(Reporting by Antonella Cinelli, graphic by Stefano Bernabei, editing by Gavin Jones)