June 10 Reuters Spanish national consumer prices rose 8.7 yearonyear in May, up from 8.3 in April, with core inflation hitting its highest since 1995, official data showed on Friday.

The National Statistics Institute data confirmed a preliminary report late last month.

It showed fuel prices had increased 15 yearonyear, with prices of food and nonalcoholic beverages such as fruits, bread and meat at their highest in Spain in 28 years, with an annual increase of 11.

Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was at its highest since 1995 at 4.9 yearonyear, up from 4.4 in April, the National Statistics Institute data showed.

Easing energy prices had brought the Spanish inflation rate lower to 8.3 in April after it hit a 40year high of 9.8 in March, but prices resumed escalating in May.

The economic consequences of Russia39;s invasion of Ukraine have sent inflation rates soaring worldwide since Feb. 24, though the Spanish government expects a slowdown in the coming months.

On Thursday, the European Central Bank ended its longrunning stimulus and said it would raise interest rates next month for the first time since 2011, followed by a potentially larger move in September. read more

The forecast is to return to more normal levels next year and that there will be a rapid deceleration in prices in the second part of the year, Economy Minister Nadia Calvino told Spanish regional TV channel TVG.

Spanish European Unionharmonised prices rose 8.5 from…