--German final May CPI up 0.5% vs Apr; up 3.5% on year
--German May CPI excl heating oil, fuels up 2.9% on year
--German May food prices up 6.7% on year, meat up 9.5% on year
--German harmonized May CPI up 0.6% on month, up 3.6% on year

Frankfurt, June 12 (BridgeNews) - German consumer prices surged 0.5% in May from April, and were up 3.5% on the year, according to final data released Tuesday by the Federal Statistics Office. The annual inflation reached its highest level since December 1993, when consumer prices jumped 4.2% on the year. The statistics office said development in consumer prices in May was heavily influenced by energy and food costs.
* * * Food prices posted a 6.7% rise on the year in May, with meat and meat products prices surging 9.5%, vegetables up 15.4% and fruits up 10.6% from May 2000.