16/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Euro area1 annual inflation was 4.0% in June 2008, up from 3.7% in May. A year earlier the rate was 1.9%. Monthly inflation was 0.4% in June 2008. EU annual inflation was 4.3% in June 2008, up from 4.0% in May. A year earlier the rate was 2.1%. Monthly inflation was 0.4% in June 2008. Compared to May 2008, the annual rate of inflation increased in 21 member states, remained stable in two and fell in three. the lowest annual rates were observed in the Netherlands (2.3%), Germany and Portugal (3.4% each), and the highest in Latvia (17.5%), Bulgaria (14.7%) and Lithuania (12.7%). The lowest 12-month averages4 up to June 2008 were registered in the Netherlands (1.7%), the United Kingdom (2.4%), Denmark and Sweden (2.6% each), and the highest in Latvia (14.5%), Bulgaria (11.7%) and Estonia (9.7%). (A.B./trans/rh)