EU annual inflation at 1.3% in February

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - Annual inflation in the EU was 1.3% in February, up from 1.2% in January, the bloc’s statistical office said on Wednesday.

The figure was 1.6% last year, according to Eurostat.

The euro area annual inflation rate was 0.9% last month, stable compared to January.

“A year earlier, the rate was 1.2%,” read a Eurostat statement.

In February, the highest contribution to the annual euro area inflation rate came from services, followed by food, alcohol and tobacco, non-energy industrial goods, and energy.

Compared to January, annual inflation fell in 10 member states, remained stable in three, and increased in 14.

The lowest rate annual rate was in Greece at minus 1.9%, followed by Slovenia and the Greek Cypriot administration at minus 1.1% and minus 0.9%, respectively.

The highest rates were recorded in Poland (3.6%), Hungary (3.3%), and Romania (2.5%), according to Eurostat data.

The eurozone/euro area, or EA19, represents member states that use the single currency -- euro -- while EU27 includes all member countries of the bloc.