BUCHAREST, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Romania maintained the highest annual inflation rate in July among the European Union members, with an increase in consumer prices of 4.1 percent, three times higher than the European average, according to the latest data released Monday by the Eurostat, statistical body of the European Union (EU).
It is the seventh consecutive month in which Romania has the highest annual inflation in the EU.
The consumer prices in Romania rose from the level of 3.9 percent recorded in June, while the average annual inflation rate in the EU decreased in July to 1.4 percent from 1.6 percent in June.
Among the EU members, Romania was followed by Hungary with 3.3 percent, Latvia and Slovakia both with 3 percent.
At the opposite end, Portugal recorded the lowest annual inflation rate with -0.7 percent, while in Cyprus consumer prices increased by 0.1 percent, and in Italy by 0.3 percent.
Compared to the previous month, the annual inflation rate in July increased in 11 members, remained stable in two and decreased in 15.
According to the data previously released by the National Institute of Statistics, the annual inflation rate increased in July due to the rising prices of foodstuffs, with 5.15 percent, services with 4.11 percent and non-foodstuffs with 3.44 percent.
Central bank governor Mugur Isarescu announced earlier this month that the bank kept the inflation forecast at 4.2 percent by the end of this year.