Falling inflation in German states points to national decline

BERLIN, Feb 29 (Reuters) – Inflation fell in six economically important German states in February, preliminary data showed on Thursday, suggesting that German inflation is continuing on its downward trajectory.

The inflation rate in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, fell to 2.6% in February from 3.0% in January.

Saxony and Baden-Wuerttemberg saw the largest dips, falling to 3.0% from 3.5%, and to 2.7% from 3.2%, respectively. Those states were followed by Bavaria, where the rate fell to 2.6% from 2.9%, Brandenburg, with a fall to 3.5% from 3.7%, and then Hesse, at 2.1% from 2.2% the month before.

Economists polled by Reuters forecast Germany’s harmonised inflation at 2.7% in February, down from 3.1% in January.

National inflation data for February is being published by individual euro zone countries before the EU-wide release slated for Friday, which is expected to show headline inflation slowing to 2.5% year-on-year in February from 2.8% in January.

Spanish data on Thursday showed EU-harmonised inflation falling to 2.9% in February from 3.5%, while French data showed inflation rising slightly more than expected, to 3.1%.