Inflation dips in key German states in October, pointing to national fall

BERLIN, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Inflation fell in several key German states in October, preliminary data showed on Friday, suggesting Germany's national inflation rate could also decrease this month.

• In Bavaria, the inflation rate fell to 2.8% in October from 3.2% in September. In North Rhine-Westphalia it dipped to 2.7% from 3.3%, while in Lower Saxony it fell to 2.9% from 3.3%. Baden-Wuerttemberg saw a 0.3 percentage point fall to 2.6% while in Saxony the inflation rate remained at 2.8%.

• The war in Iran has pushed up energy prices in recent months, and the German government currently expects inflation to reach 2.7% this year and 3.0% in 2027.

• Economists polled by Reuters are forecasting a harmonised national inflation rate in Germany - the euro zone's largest economy - of 3.1% in October, down from 3.3% in the previous month. National figures will be released later on Friday.

• The German data comes ahead of the euro zone inflation release on Wednesday. Inflation in the bloc is expected to come in at 3.9% in October, slightly above September's 3.8%, according to economists polled by Reuters.

• The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged on Thursday but clearly hinted at another hike in December, with a warning that high and rising energy costs were fuelling inflation risks.

(Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Friederike Heine)