CAR prices across Europe are rising at their fastest rate for two years.

Eurocarprice.com claims that while car buyers look to the Euro and shake-up of block exemption to bring price decreases, there is little sign of change between prices in different European countries.

From research in 19 European and Scandanavian countries, eurocarprice.com found that prices for all types of car increased in the year to January 2002. Prices in the supermini segment were up 1.8%, the lower- medium segment 4.1% and upper medium segment 5%. Great Britain has the highest pre-tax prices in Europe, although it is fifth behind Denmark, Norway, Finland, Ireland and Portugal when retail prices are compared.