BERLIN, May 30 (Reuters) - Economists expect Germany's inflation rate to ease further in May towards the European Central Bank's longer-term target of 2%, but state data released on Friday before the national figures painted a mixed picture.
In Bavaria, the inflation rate remained unchanged in May at 2.1%. In Baden-Wuerttemberg it eased to 2.2% from 2.4% in April, in North Rhine-Westphalia it rose to 2.0% from 1.8%, and in Lower Saxony it inched up to 2.3% from 2.2%.
Economists polled by Reuters forecast German inflation to reach 2.0% in May in harmonised terms, down from 2.2% the previous month.
Economists will pay close attention to the national data, with the euro zone's largest economy publishing its figures ahead of data for the entire currency bloc on Tuesday.
Euro zone inflation is expected to ease to 2.1% in May from 2.2% in April, according to economists polled by Reuters.
Reporting by Rachel More, editing by Thomas Seythal
Source: Reuters