BERLIN, Feb 29 Reuters Inflation fell in six economically important German states in February, preliminary data showed on Thursday, suggesting that German inflation is continuing on its downward trajectory.

The inflation rate in North RhineWestphalia, Germany39;s most populous state, fell to 2.6 in February from 3.0 in January.

Saxony and BadenWuerttemberg saw the largest dips, falling to 3.0 from 3.5, and to 2.7 from 3.2, respectively. Those states were followed by Bavaria, where the rate fell to 2.6 from 2.9, Brandenburg, with a fall to 3.5 from 3.7, and then Hesse, at 2.1 from 2.2 the month before.

Economists polled by Reuters forecast Germany39;s harmonised inflation at 2.7 in February, down from 3.1 in January.

National inflation data for February is being published by individual euro zone countries before the EUwide release slated for Friday, which is expected to show headline inflation slowing to 2.5 yearonyear in February from 2.8 in January.

Spanish data on Thursday showed EUharmonised inflation falling to 2.9 in February from 3.5, while French data showed inflation slowing slightly, to 3.1 from 3.4 in January.

Reporting by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel More

Source Reuters