Brussels, 18/08/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, Eurostat reported that, in July 2000, Euro-zone annual inflation stood at 2.4%, thus stable compared to June 2000, but much higher than July 1999 (a year ago, it stood at 1.1%), whereas the inflation rate for the EU15 (which was also 1.1% in July 1999) increased from June to July 2000, from 2.1% to 2.2%. Also in the European Economic Area (EEA), the annual inflation rate in July was 2.2%, compared to 2.1% in June.
Here are the annual inflation rates by country, by decreasing order: - Ireland: 5.9%; - Luxembourg: 4.7%; - Spain: 3.7%: - Portugal: 3.3%: - Belgium: 3.1%; - Finland: 2.9%; - the Netherlands and Denmark: 2.8%; - Italy and Greece: 2.6%; - Germany, France and Austria: 2%; - Sweden: 1.1%; - the United Kingdom: 1%.
Compared to June 2000, annual inflation increased in nine Member States (Belgium, France, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, United Kingdom), and fell in five (Italy, Austria, Finland, Denmark and Sweden), whereas it remained stable in one country (Germany).
The lowest average inflation rates over twelve months, July 2000 included, were recorded in the United Kingdom (0.9%), Sweden (1.1%) and France (1.3%), whereas the highest were in Ireland (4.2%), Spain (2.9%), Denmark and Luxembourg (both 2.8%).
The Commission's spokesperson noted that the rise in the price of energy was the main cause for this increase in inflation rate, to which must be added rises in other sectors (food products, for example), whereas, on the positive side, the effects of the liberalisation of certain sectors were felt (drop of 2.6% in the price of electricity and 4.9% for telecommunications).