Inflation in Germany sinks to four-year low

Prices rose by 0.9 percent on May 2013, according to statistics office Destatis, and fell 0.1 percent on April.

The cost of fuel and heating tumbled by 0.8 percent while food prices rose by just 0.5 percent. Rent increased by 1.5 percent on last May.

Although it is good news for consumers, the weak inflation is below the European Central Bank’s target of just under two percent.

But Berenberg economist Christian Schulz said: "We expect inflation in Germany to pass through a low in the spring and then slowly rise again towards the ECB 's target .”

In the states of Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg and Hesse, the annual rate of inflation slowed to 0.7 percent.

In Bavaria it stood at 0.6 percent and in North-Rhine Westphalia it was 1.1 percent.

Inflation in Germany in April was 1.3 percent.

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