According to the data released by Eurostat in September 2011, Euro area annual inflation was 3.0%, whereas for the whole of the European Union the rate was 3.3%. Monthly inflation was 0.8% and 0.6% respectively.

According the latest statistics published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, Euro area annual inflation was 3.0% in September 2011, up from 2.5% in August, which remained unchanged compared to July. However, a year earlier the rate was 1.9%. Monthly inflation was 0.8% in September 2011. Euro area inflation is measured by the MUICP (Monetary Union Index of Consumer Prices as defined in Council Regulation (EC) Nº 2494/95 of 23 October 1995) which is the official euro area aggregate. EU annual inflation was 3.3% in September 2011, up from 2.9% in August. A year earlier the rate was lower, 2.3%. Monthly inflation was 0.6% in September 2011. EU inflation is measured by the EICP (’European Index of Consumer Prices’ as defined in Council Regulation (EC) Nº 2494/95 of 23 October 1995), the official EU aggregate.

Transport (5.9%), housing (5.0%) and alcohol & tobacco (3.7%), were the main components with the highest annual rates in September 2011, while the lowest annual rate were observed for communications (-1.9%), recreation & culture (0.5%) and household equipment (1.3%). Concerning the detailed sub-indices, fuels for transport (+0.55 percentage points), heating oil (+0.19) and electricity (+0.12) had the largest upward impacts on the headline rate, while telecommunications (-0.16), vegetables (-0.11) and rents (-0.10) had the biggest downward impacts.

In September 2011, the lowest annual rates were observed in Ireland (1.3%), Sweden (1.5%) and the Czech Republic (2.1%), and the highest in Estonia (5.4%) and Lithuania (4.7%). Compared with August 2011, annual inflation fell in seven Member States, remained stable in five and rose in fourteen. The lowest 12-month averages up to September 2011 were registered in Ireland (0.6%), Sweden (1.6%), the Czech Republic and Slovenia (both 1.9%), and the highest in Romania (6.9%) and Estonia (5.2%).