Eurostat has revised downwards its preliminary estimate of inflation in the euro area. Prices were up 2,6% year-on-year, up from 2,7% in December. Forecasts called for inflation to rise to 2,7% in January, in line with the trend growth of the previous month. If read in the light of the price increase in January 2011, the figure shows a drop in prices of 0,8 points from December to January.
In 2011 the podium of price increases sees the triumph'Estonia (4,7%), followed by Slovakia (4,1%) and fromItaly with 3,4%. The sectors where the menus have reserved the worst surprises for consumers are housing, transport, and tobacco with increases of around 4%.
