Since the end of 2006, but particularly since July 2007, food prices in the EU2 have increased more rapidly than overall inflation. The same pattern was observed for the euro area. In April 2008, the annual increase in food prices in the EU was 7.1%, compared with 3.6% for overall inflation, as measured by the all-items HICP. In the euro area, the annual increase in food prices was 6.2%, compared with 3.3% for overall inflation.