Annual inflation in Germany unexpectedly rose in July on higher food prices, dpa cited the statistics office as saying on Tuesday. The cost of living in Europe's biggest economy climbed to 1.9 per cent last month from 1.8 per cent in June, the data showed. Analysts had expected the statistics office would say annual consumer prices slipped 1.7 per cent. Helping to drive the July increase was a 5.7-per-cent jump in food prices after protracted winter weather followed by floods in part of the country harmed the farming sector. The European Central Bank has set an annual target for inflation in the 17-member eurozone at below but close to 2 per cent.
