17/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The annual inflation rate in the euro area was 2.1% in September 20072, up from 1.7% in August and 1.7% at the same time in 2006. In the EU27, inflation was 2.2% in September 2007, compared with 1.9% both the previous month and at the same time last year. In September 2007, the lowest rates were found in Malta (0.9%), Denmark (1.2%) and the Netherlands (1.3%), and the highest in Latvia (11.5%), Bulgaria (11%) and Estonia (7.5%). Compared with August 2007, annual inflation rose in 24 member states, remained stable in one and fell in one. The lowest 12-month averages up to September 2007 were in Malta (0.4%), France and Finland (both 1.4%), while the highest were in Latvia (8.2%), Hungary (7.8%) and Bulgaria (6.2%). (A.B.)