Brussels, 20/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - The rate of inflation of the euro zone was 2.2% in March 2006, compared to 2.3% in February and 2.1% one year ago. In the EU25, it reached 2.1%, down compared to February (2.2%) and unchanged compared to March 2005. In March 2006, the lowest annual rates were noted in Poland (0.9%), Finland (1.2%), Austria (1.3%) and the Netherlands (1.4%) and the highest were in Latvia (6.6%), Slovakia (4.3%), Estonia (4.0%) and Spain (3.9%). Compared to February 2006, annual inflation rose in seven Member States, remains stable in five and fell in twelve others. The main sectors presenting the highest annual rates in March 2006 were housing (5.1%), transport (4.1%) as well as alcohol and tobacco (3.0%), while the lowest annual rates were noted for communications (-3.5%), leisure activity and culture (-0.1%) and clothing (0.2).