FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Inflation in the euro zone slowed again in September, falling to a two-year low, shows the first estimate from Eurostat, the European statistics institute, published on Friday.
The consumer price index calculated according to European standards (HICP) increased by 4.3% year-on-year this month in the 20 countries sharing the European currency, after 5.2% in August.
Economists polled by Reuters expected inflation to decelerate to 4.5%.
Excluding the most volatile items such as unprocessed food products and energy, inflation slowed to 5.5% after 6.2% last month and a consensus of 5.7%.
The increase in prices excluding food, energy, alcohol and tobacco also decreased, falling to 4.5% after 5.3% in August and a consensus of 4.8%.
These figures should confirm the European Central Bank (ECB) in its conviction that it has raised its rates sufficiently to bring inflation back towards its objective of 2% in 2025.
(Written by Corentin Chappron with Francesco Canepa, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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