Annual inflation in the European Union was two percent in May this year, remaining unchanged as compared to April, according to a report released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. In May 2009 the annual inflation rate was registered as 0.8 percent. Meanwhile, monthly inflation was 0.8 percent in May this year.
In May, the lowest annual rates were observed in Latvia with -2.4 percent, in Ireland with -1.9 percent and in the Netherlands with 0.4 percent, and the highest were seen in Greece with 5.3 percent, in Hungary with 4.9 percent and in Romania with 4.4 percent. Compared with April, annual inflation in May fell in ten member states, remained stable in five and rose in twelve.
The lowest 12-month averages up to May this year were registered in Ireland at -2.5 percent, in Latvia at -1.2 percent and in Portugal at -0.5 percent, and the highest were recorded in Hungary at 5.1 percent, in Romania at 4.7 percent and in Poland at 3.9 percent.