Bulgaria’s annual inflation slowed to 11 percent in September, down from August’s rate of 13.8 percent, the National Statistics Institute announced Monday.

The Bulgarian harmonized index of consumer prices rose by 0.9 percent in September over August, and by 11.4 percent compared with September 2007, it was also announced.

Bulgaria has one of the highest inflation rates in the European Union. The goal of the Socialist-led government for 2009 is to drag inflation down to 8 percent.