Brussels, 20/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - After quite a lengthy period of rising, the European Communities' Statistical Office, Eurostat, has announced that the annual inflation rate dropped slightly in October 2000 compared to September, both in the euro zone (2.8% to 2.7%) an the EU15 (2.4% against 2.5%).. The highest annual rates were recorded in Ireland (6.0%), Luxembourg (4.3%) and Spain (4.0%), whereas the lowest were in the UK (1.0%), Sweden (1.3%), France and Austria (2.1% each). On the whole, inflation over the year has increased in eight Member States, dropped in four and remained stable in three. Compared to October 1999, the steepest rises were in Germany (from 0.9% to 2.4%), Belgium (1.4% to 3.7%), Austria and France (0.8% to 2.1% each). A relative drop was recorded in one State only, the United Kingdom (from 1.2% to 1.0%).