The annual inflation rate in the European Union and eurozone was down in May 2019, whereas in Croatia prices increased somewhat more strongly compared to April, a report by Eurostat said on Tuesday.

Croatia's annual inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices increased in May by 1.0 compared to the same month last year. In April prices increased by 0.8 percent, which was the lowest annual inflation rate in the EU.

Ireland too recorded the same annual inflation rate in May as Croatia (1.0 percent), whereas Italy and Spain's inflation increased by 0.9 percent, and in France it was up 1.1 percent.

The lowest annual rates in May were registered in Cyprus (0.2 percent), Portugal (0.3 percent) and Greece (0.6 percent).

The highest annual rates were recorded in Romania (4.4 percent), Hungary (4.0 percent) and Latvia (3.5 percent).

The euro area annual inflation rate was 1.2 percent in May 2019, down from 1.7 percent in April 2019.