The inflation rate in Germany remained unchanged in April after declines in the three consecutive preceding months. Consumer prices in April rose by 2.2% more than in the same month last year, the Federal Statistical Office said in a preliminary reading on Monday. The last time the annual inflation rate was lower was in April 2021, when it was 2%. In December last year the rate stood at 3.7%, and has been falling steadily since then. Consumers paid 0.5% more for food in April than a year earlier. By contrast, prices for household energy fell by 1.2% – despite the expiry of the temporary VAT re…