Inflation down in three German states in June, pointing to national easing

Inflation Declines in Three German States, Indicating National Easing

By Maria Martinez

BERLIN -Inflation fell in three important German states in June, preliminary data showed on Monday, suggesting Germany's national inflation rate could ease this month.

In Bavaria, the inflation rate fell in June to 1.8% from 2.1% in the previous month, in North Rhine-Westphalia it fell to 1.8% from 2.0% and in Lower Saxony it fell to 2.2% from 2.3% in May.

In Baden-Wuerttemberg, however, the inflation rate increased slightly to 2.3% from 2.2% in the previous month.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a harmonised national inflation rate in Germany - the euro zone's largest economy - of 2.2% in June, up from 2.1% in the previous month. 

(Editing by Matthias Williams)