Inflation fears have prompted Mongol Bank to raise its interest rate by 0.25 percent to 11.75 percent. Officials say they hope the increase will curb inflation, which has hit 10.1 percent in Mongolia, according to the National Statistics Committee. In Ulaanbaatar the rate is even higher: 11.4 percent. The inflation has been caused by rising consumer good, transportation, and fuel prices. The large amount of money issued to every Mongolian citizen through the Human Development Fund also plays a role. Mongol Bank officials expect the rate of inflation to continue rising into the first quarter of next year.