ATHENS — The Greek annual inflation rate returned to positive territory in May, with the consumer price index rising 0.1 pct compared with May 2020, after a -1.1 pct decline recorded for the same period in the previous year, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Friday.

The statistics service, in a monthly report, said that the consumer price index fell 0.4 oct in May from April 2021 after a 0.8 pct decline recorded in the same period in 2020. The average consumer price index was -1.5 pct in the period June 2020-May 2021, compared with the previous 12-month period.

The -0.4 pct reading of the consumer price index in May (monthly basis) reflected price declines of: 10.5 pct in clothing/footwear and a 0.3 pct in health prices. On the other hand, prices rose 0.5 pct in food/beverages, 0.3 pct in alcohol/tobacco, 0.1 pct in housing, 0.6 pct in transport and 0.5 pct in other goods and services.

The country's harmonised inflation rate was -1.2 pct in May 2021 from May 2020, after a -0.7 pct decline recorded in the same period in 2019-2020. On a monthly basis, the harmonised inflation rate fell 0.3 pct in May from April 2021.