Annual inflation lowest

Malta registered the second lowest annual inflation rate in the euro area during October.

It stood at 2.4 per cent, 0.3 per cent less than in the previous month, according to the latest Eurostat statistics. Inflation in the rest of the euro area remained stable, at three per cent, the same rate as in September.

The only member state in the euro area with a lower inflation rate than Malta was Ireland, with just 1.5 per cent.

The European Central Bank (ECB) considers an inflation rate of around two per cent as maintaining price stability.