The inflation rate in the euro area rose to 1,3% in March, thus breaking through the psychological threshold of 1%. In February it was 0,9%. This is the flash estimate released today, 31 March, by Eurostat while awaiting the complete data for the Euro area, the EU and the States which will be published on 16 April.
The highest rate by far is that of energy, which reached 4,3% compared to -1,7% in February. Followed by services (1,3% after 1,2%), food, alcohol and tobacco (1,1% after 1,3%) and non-energy industrial goods (0,3% after 1%).
“Excluding energy, the inflation rate in March should be 1%; also excluding unprocessed foodstuffs 1%; excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco 0,9%”, communicates the Community Statistical Institute.
As for individual countries, in the month of March Germany's inflation rate expected at 2% (1,6% in February), in France at 1,4% (from 0,8%), in Spain at 1,2% (-0,1%). Coming toItaly, the Eurostat estimate speaks of an annual inflation rate of 0,6% in March, after the 1% recorded in February.
In the meantime they have also arrived the preliminary estimates of Istat compared to March, according to which the national consumer price index for the whole community (Nic), gross of tobacco, recorded an increase of 0,3% on a monthly basis and 0,8% YoY (from +0,6% in February). “For the first time since February 2020, the prices of unregulated energy goods are growing again on an annual basis. Inflation thus accelerates for the third consecutive month and, while remaining below one percentage point, returns to the levels of May 2019. At the same time, the prices of the so-called shopping cart see their growth zeroed (this has not happened since February 2018 when they recorded a drop of 0,6%)”, comments the Institute, explaining that the slight acceleration in consumer prices is mainly due to the prices of Unregulated energy goods (which went from -3,6% to +1,7%) and those of services relating to transport (from +1% to +2,2%). Core inflation, excluding energy and fresh food, and excluding energy only, both rose to +0,8% from +0,9% in February.
“The cyclical increase in the general index is mainly due to the growth in the prices of non-regulated energy goods (+3,2%) and services relating to transport (+1,3%). The prices of food, home and personal care products recorded a zero trend variation (from +0,2%), while those of frequently purchased products accelerated (from +0,1% to +0,8, XNUMX%)”, concludes Istat.
