ROME (AFX) - Preliminary consumer prices according to the NIC index, including tobacco prices, were unchanged in September from August and were up 2.6 pct from a year earlier, statistics bureau ISTAT said. In August, NIC CPI, including tobacco, was unchanged from July and was up 2.8 pct from a year earlier. Italy's EU harmonised index of consumer prices was up 0.1 pct in September from August and was up 2.6 pct from a year earlier. In August it was unchanged from July and was up 2.8 pct from a year earlier. The NIC CPI is the lowest increase since October. The harmonised CPI is the lowest since March, ISTAT said. ir/jfr