Inflation plummets to lowest since 2010. According to provisional estimates by Istat, the national consumer price index fell to 1,2% in April from 1,6% in March. This is the seventh consecutive drop and is mainly linked to the slowdown in the prices of energy goods (-2% compared to March and -0,9% on an annual basis).
The acquired inflation for 2013 is equal to 1%, while the underlying inflation (calculated excluding energy goods and fresh food) recorded a decrease this month to 1,2% from 1,4% of March. Excluding energy goods alone, the trend growth of the consumer price index slows down to 1,3% from 1,5% in March.
As for the so-called "shopping cart” – ie the index relating to the grouping of the most purchased products – fell by 0,1% on a monthly basis in April, while it increased by 1,5% on an annual basis, a sharp slowdown from 2% in March. In this case it is the lowest value even since November 2009.
Even in the whole Eurozone there is a sharp deceleration in average inflation. According to Eurostat, in April the figure stood at 1,2% on an annual basis. The survey is lower than analysts' expectations.
