spains annual rate of inflation accelerated in may beating economists expectations according to preliminary data released by the spanish statistics office ine on monday in may consumer prices rose 85 on year by european unionharmonized standards more than the 81 rise forecast by economists polled by the wall street journal spains annual rate of inflation was at 83 in april measured by national standards consumer prices rose 87 on year in may ines data showed the rise in consumer prices was driven by a surge in fuel prices and food and nonalcoholic beverages ine said core inflationwhich excludes volatile items such as food and energyrose to 49 in may from 44 in april this is the highest figure since october 1995 according to ines data spains consumer prices rose 08 on month by national standards and 07 by euharmonized standards