BRATISLAVA, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Slovak consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent month-on-month in October, putting the annual inflation rate at 3.7 percent, the Statistics Office said on Friday. SLOVAK HEADLINE CPI OCT 06 SEPT 06 OCT 05 pct change mo/mo +0.2 -0.3 +1.1 pct change yr/yr +3.7 +4.6 +3.3 SLOVAK CORE CPI pct change mo/mo +0.1 -0.3 +0.1 pct change yr/yr +2.4 +2.4 +1.1 - Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected consumer prices to rise by 0.1 percent on the month putting the annual rate at 3.6 percent in October. - The core inflation rate, which excludes the impact of changes to state-regulated prices and excise taxes, was forecast to be flat month-on-month and rise by 2.3 percent year-on-year in October. - Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages were flat on the month in October, after a 0.1 percent rise in September. - Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which have the strongest weighting in the consumer basket rose by 1.0 percent in October, after being flat in the previous month. - Transportation prices, influenced mainly by oil costs, fell by 1.2 percent on the month in October, after a 2.2 percent drop in September. MARKET REACTION: - The Slovak crown was little changed after the data, trading at 36.160 per euro at 0705 GMT. BACKGROUND: - Inflation data were calculated according to domestic methodology. - The central bank more closely follows inflation calculated under the EU-harmonised consumer price index, but the data calculated according to the local method usually show only small differences from the EU norm figures. - The Statistics Office will release EU norm inflation data for October on Nov. 16. - The central bank sets its inflation targets according to EU norm data as part of Slovakia's preparation for joining the euro in 2009. - The Slovak inflation rate rose sharply last year and in 2006 due to hikes in natural gas and heating prices for households. - Analysts expect the central bank to raise the key two-week repo rate this year after three increases by 50 and one by 25 basis points earlier in 2006. LINKS: - For further details on October inflation and other past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Slovak Statistics Office's website: http://wwww.statistics.sk/webdata/english/index2_a.htm - For LIVE Slovak economic data releases, click on......<ECONCZ> - Schedule of upcoming indicator releases............<SK/ECON09> - Summary of short-term economic data forecasts......<SK/ECON04> - Stories on Slovak currency moves........................[SKK/] - Slovak speed money guide ..............................<CZK/1> - Slovak benchmark state bond prices .................<0#SKBMK=> - Slovak forward money market rates ....................<SKKFRA> ((Reporting by Martin Santa, editing by Alan Crosby; bratislava.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net; +421 2 5341 8402)) Keywords: ECONOMY SLOVAKIA INFLATION