Europe sees inflation drop to 6.1%, but real relief for consumers will take months

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Europe’s inflation took a positive turn with a significant drop to 6.1%, but prices are still posing a pinch to shoppers who are yet to see real relief in what they pay for food and other necessities.

The annual figure in May eased from 7% in April for the 20 countries that use the euro currency, the European Union’s statistical agency Eurostat said Thursday.

It was a welcome sign that the explosion in price increases — which peaked in record double digits last October — is heading in the right direction. But economists warned that it will be many months before disgruntled consumers see more normal levels of inflation reflected on price tags in shops.