BERLIN, March 1 Reuters Inflation in five German states was largely unchanged in the high single digits in February, pointing to no letup in stubborn price pressures at the national level.

Annual inflation in Saxony, Bavaria and Brandenburg was at the same level as in January, while it rose by 0.2 percentage points in North RhineWestphalia, Germany39;s most populous state, and BadenWuerttemberg.

Preliminary panGerman inflation December data is due at 1300 GMT.

A Reuters poll of economists has forecast national inflation, harmonised to compare with other European Union countries, easing to 9.0 in February from 9.2 in January.

Germany39;s figure will be closely watched after two of the euro zone39;s biggest economies  Spain and France  posted unexpected rises on Tuesday, pushing up European Central Bank rate hike expectations and challenging the narrative that a rapid easing in price growth is under way.

The ECB has raised interest rates by 300 basis points since July and promised another oversized move in March, but some policymakers have called for more measured action after March as inflation is now off the highs it hit in October.

Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel pushed back on those calls on Wednesday, saying recent energy price falls may help bring down inflation in the near term, but they do not impact the medium term and price growth was at risk of getting stuck above the ECB39;s 2 target.

The interest rate step announced for March will not be the last,…