Consumer prices in the euro zone in February increased by 2.4% in annual terms, according to preliminary data from the statistical office of the European Union.
Thus, inflation slowed down compared to January, when it was 2.5%.
Analysts on average had expected a greater weakening to 2.3%, Trading Economics reported.
The rise in services prices slowed last month to 3.7% from 3.9% in January, while energy prices slowed to 0.2% from 1.9%. Meanwhile, the rise in the cost of unprocessed food accelerated to 3.1% from 1.4% and industrial goods accelerated to 0.6% from 0.5%.
Growth in consumer prices excluding the cost of food and energy (CPI Core) in February was 2.6% in annual terms against 2.7% a month earlier.
Consumer prices in the eurozone in February increased by 0.5% compared to the previous month. In January, the index decreased by 0.3%.
The highest inflation in annual terms was recorded in Estonia (5%), Croatia (4.7%) and Belgium (4.4%) and Slovakia (4.1%). The lowest price increases were observed in France (0.9%), Ireland (1.3%), Finland (1.5%). In Germany, inflation was 2.8%, the same as a month earlier, in Italy it remained at 1.7%, in Spain – at 2.9%.
