Euro area annual inflation rate remains stable – 2.4%, compared with annual rate in May 2012. A year earlier, the rate was 2.7%.  The consumer price index (CPI) for the whole European Union rose from 2.5% in May to 2.6% in June 2012. The lowest annual rates were observed in Sweden (0.9%), Greece (1.0%) and the highest in Hungary (5.6%), Estonia and Malta (both 4.4%).

The main components with the highest annual rates in June 2012 were energy (6.1%), alcohol & tobacco (4.9%), housing (3.7%) and transport (3.1%), while the lowest annual rates were observed for communications (-2.8%), education (0.7%) and recreation & culture (0.8%). Inflation rate is carefully observed, as it is the main objective of the European Central Bank to secure stable inflation rate of app. 2% in medium term.

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