Euro-zone annual inflation was 2.1% in September 2002, the same as in August, Eurostat – the Statistical Office of the European Communities in Luxembourg – reports today. A year earlier the rate was 2.2%.
EU15 annual inflation was 1.9% in September 2002, the same as in August. A year earlier the rate was 2.1%. EEA annual inflation was 1.9% in September 2002.
Inflation in Member States
In September, the highest annual rates were recorded in Ireland (4.5%), Greece and Portugal (both 3.8%); the lowest rates were observed in Germany and the United Kingdom (both 1.0%) and Belgium and Sweden (both 1.2%).
Compared with August 2002, annual inflation rose in three Member States, fell in seven, and remained stable in five. Compared with September 2001, the biggest relative falls were in Sweden (3.3% to 1.2%), Germany (2.1% to 1.0%) and Finland (2.6% to 1.4%) and the biggest relative rises were in Spain (2.3% to 3.5%), Italy (2.1% to 2.8%) and Denmark (2.1% to 2.5%).
Lowest 12-month averages up to September 2002 were in the United Kingdom (1.1%), Germany (1.4%), Belgium and Luxembourg (both 1.7%); highest were in Ireland (4.6%), the Netherlands (4.3%) and Greece (3.8%).
USA and Switzerland
Annual inflation was 0.5% in Switzerland in September 2002, the same as in August. Data from the USA were not yet available in time for publication. These indices are not strictly comparable with EU harmonized indices.
(source: Eurostat)
