Annual inflation in Germany likely remained broadly stable in June, according to consumer price figures from two states published today.
The annual rate of inflation in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany's most populous state, was flat at 1.7 per cent in June, while it rose by a tenth of a point to 2.4 per cent in the eastern state of Brandenburg, official data showed.
Figures from six German states provide the first insight into price trends across the euro zone, where annual inflation rose by a tenth of a point to 2.5 per cent in May, well above the European Central Bank's target rate of just below 2 per cent.
Month-on-month, prices in Brandenburg climbed 0.3 per cent, boosted by higher seasonal foods and fuel costs. They rose 0.1 per cent in NRW, matching the consensus forecast of economists polled by Reuters last week for price moves on a national basis.
The Reuters survey forecast that the national consumer price index would show annual inflation accelerating to 2 per cent from 1.9 per cent in May, with the EU-harmonised gauge easing by a tenth of a point to 2 per cent.
Analysts predicted that prices would rise by 0.1 per cent on the month, measured according to both gauges.