German inflation slows in May

BERLIN, June 2 (Reuters): Annual inflation in Europe's largest economy likely slowed in May, data from German states suggested on Monday, probably pushing down the broader eurozone rate and raising pressure on the European Central Bank to act when it meets this week.

Data from six states showed annual inflation rates ranging from 0.6 per cent to 1.1 per cent. Economists had forecast that the preliminary national rate, due out at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT), would show consumer prices climbed by 1.1 per cent on the year.

In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany's most populous state and traditionally a bellwether for the national data, consumer prices increased by 1.1. per cent on the year, their lowest annual rate since Sept. 2010.