Brussels, 19.07.2004 (Agence Europe) - In June 2004, the annual rate of inflation of the euro zone was in accordance with estimates at 2.4%, compared to 1.9% one year earlier. The rate was 2.5% in May 2004. In the 25-member EU, Eurostat points out that the annual inflation rate is also 2.4% whereas it was 1.8% for the same period last year. The figure is stable compared to May 2004.
The lowest annual inflation rates were noted in Finland (-0.15%), Denmark (+0.9%), Lithuania (+1%) and Sweden (+1.2%), with the highest being in Slovakia (+8.1%), Hungary (+7.5%), Latvia (+6.1%) and Estonia (+4.4%). Compared to the month of May 2004, the annual rate of inflation increased in twelve Member States and fell in nine, remaining stable in four. In June 2004, the rise in annual rates concerns above all alcoholic drinks and tobacco (+8.4%) and health (+7.7%), whereas the annual rates fell for communications (-1.9%) and also for leisure activities and culture (-0.1%).