Inflation in Germany, the euro zone's biggest economy, slowed sharply in January, according to the latest preliminary data today.
The German consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.4% in January from the figure for December and was 1.6% higher than it had been in January 2004, the federal statistics office, Destatis, said in a statement. The 12-month rate of inflation was therefore substantially slower than the 2.1% recorded in December.
Preliminary pan-German CPI is calculated on the basis of regional cost-of-living data for six so-called indicator states - Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony.
Final January CPI, based on consumer price data for all 16 German states, will be published later this month.
