BEIRUT- Lebanon's annual inflation rate fell to 4 percent in January from 6.4 percent in December, central bank statistics released to Reuters on Tuesday showed.

Lower commodity and energy prices have helped curb Lebanon's inflation from a peak of 14 percent in July.

The central bank has said average inflation for 2008 was between 8 and 10 percent. Policymakers have forecast average 2009 inflation of between 5 and 6 percent.

High inflation last year put pressure on the government to raise public sector wages. The central bank governor said last month interest rates could be stable or fall in 2009. -Reuters