Consumer prices in the euro area, and in Croatia, dropped by 0.3% in September 2020 compared to September 2019, according to a report released by the European statistical office on Friday.

In the euro area, the annual inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), remained in the red for the second month in a row, Eurostat data show.

In August, prices in the euro area fell by 0.2%. In September 2019, the annual inflation rate stood at 0.8%.

In the European Union, prices last month went up by 0.3% year-on-year, following an increase of 0.4% in August.

In September 2019, prices increased by 1.2% on the year.

A total of 12 EU member states, including Croatia, recorded a negative inflation rate last month.

Greece and Cyprus saw the biggest drops in prices, of 2.3% and 1.9% respectively. They are followed by Estonia, where prices declined by 1.3%.

In Croatia, consumer prices in September 2020 were 0.3% lower than in September 2019, just like in the euro area. In August, they decreased by 0.4% on the year.

The biggest annual HICP inflation rate in September, of 3.8%, was registered by Poland. It is followed by Hungary (3.4%) and the Czech Republic (3.3%).