According to the data published by Eurostat and the National Institute of Statistics, euro area annual inflation is expected to be 2.7% in May 2011. It was 2.8% in April 2011.

Euro area inflation is measured by the Monetary Union Index of Consumer Prices. To compute the MUICP flash estimates, Eurostat uses early price information relating to the reference month from Member States for which data are available as well as early information about energy prices.

The flash estimation procedure for the MUICP combines historical information with partial information on price developments in the most recent months to give a total index for the euro area. No detailed breakdown is available. Experience has shown the procedure to be reliable (19 times exactly anticipating the inflation rate and 5 times differing by 0.1 over the last two years).