Inflation is moving in different directions in Europe. It hit 6.8% in Germany and 1.6% in Spain

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation is pushing in different directions in Europe, rising in Germany and falling again in Spain. German consumer prices jumped 6.8% in June from a year earlier, up from May’s 6.3%. The increase in Europe’s largest economy Thursday comes a day before the release of inflation figures for the entire 20-country area that uses the euro currency. European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde has warned inflation is persistent enough to warrant at least one more interest rate hike at the bank’s July 27 meeting. Meanwhile, lower food and energy inflation meant Spain’s consumer price index increased only 1.6% in June from a year earlier, down from 2.9% in May.