Irish consumer prices fail to rise for fourth successive month

DUBLIN, Dec (Shanghai: 600875.SS - news) 8 (Reuters) - Irish consumer prices failed to rise year-on-year for the fourth successive month in November, falling by 0.1 percent as inflation remained elusive in the European Union's fastest growing economy, data showed on Thursday.

Ireland (Other OTC: IRLD - news) 's annual inflation rate hit its highest level in three years in July, when prices rose 0.5 percent, but it turned negative again a month later as consumer prices remained muted despite three years of strong economic growth.

Prices also slipped by 0.1 percent month-on-month. Motor insurance premiums, which surprisingly fell by 8.2 percent on the month in October after a series of rapid rises, grew by 1 percent month-on-month last month to stand 11.6 percent higher year-on-year. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin, editing by Larry King)