Consumer prices in the OECD area rose by 0.1 % in the year to May 2009, compared with 0.6 % in the year to April, continuing the sharp fall in annual inflation since its peak of 4.9% in July 2008. Month-on-month, prices rose by 0.2% in May, unchanged from April 2009.

Consumer prices for energy were down by 16.2% in the year to May 2009, following a fall of 13.5% in April. Consumer prices for food were up by 2.7% in the year to May, compared with 3.4% in April. Excluding food and energy, consumer prices rose by 1.7% in the year to May 2009, compared with 1.8% in April 2009.

In the euro area, the annual inflation (HICP) was 0.0% in May 2009, down from 0.6% in April. Month-on-month, the HICP in the euro area rose by 0.1% in May, compared with a rise of 0.4% in April. Excluding food and energy, the year-on-year rise in the HICP in the euro area amounted to 1.5% in May, compared with 1.8% in April.

In the United States, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 1.3% over the year to May 2009, the third continuous month of declines.

In Japan, consumer prices fell 1.1% year-on-year in May, the fourth straight month of declines.

Over the year to May, annual inflation was 2.2% in the United Kingdom, 0.9% in Italy, 0.1% in Canada, 0.0% in Germany and -0.3% in France.