Brussels, 19/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - Euro area annual inflation was 0.4% in July 2014, down from 0.5% in June according to figures from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union published in the middle of August (see EUROPE 11133). This is the lowest annual inflation rate since October 2009.
European Union annual inflation was 0.6% in July 2014, down from 0.7% in June.
In July 2014, negative annual rates were observed in Bulgaria (-1.1%), Greece (-0.8%), Portugal (-0.7%), Spain (-0.4%) and Slovakia (-0.2%). There was zero level inflation in Estonia, Italy and Poland. The highest annual rates were recorded in Austria (1.7%), Romania (1.5%) and Luxembourg (1.2%). Compared with June 2014, annual inflation fell in 13 member states, remained stable in six and rose in eight (see EUROPE 11124).
Prices increased in restaurants and cafés (+0.08%), rents (+0.06%) and maintenance of vehicles (+0.05%), while fruit (-0.13%), vegetables and telecommunications (-0.11% each) had the biggest downward impacts. (MB)