ROME (AFX) - Consumer prices according to the NIC index, including tobacco prices, were up 0.1 pct in December from November and were up 2.7 pct from a year earlier, statistics bureau ISTAT said.
In November, the NIC index with tobacco was up 0.3 pct from October and up 2.7 pct year-on-year.
Excluding tobacco prices, NIC CPI in December was up 0.1 pct and up 2.8 pct year-on-year. NIC CPI ex-tobacco in November was up 0.4 pct from October and was up 2.8 pct from a year earlier.
Italy's EU harmonised index of consumer prices was up 0.1 pct in December from November and was up 2.8 pct from a year earlier. In November it was up 0.4 pct from October and was up 2.9 pct from a year earlier.
Using the NIC index, food and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose 0.7 pct month-on-month; housing and utilities prices fell 0.1 pct; transport prices fell 0.3 pct; leisure and culture prices rose 0.1 pct; furniture and domestic services prices rose 0.1 pct; hotels, restaurant and bars prices rose 0.3 pct.
Year-on-year, food and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose 2.8 pct; housing and utilities prices rose 6.3 pct; transport prices rose 3.3 pct; leisure and culture prices rose 1.1 pct; furniture and domestic services prices rose 2.2 pct; hotels, restaurant and bars prices rose 3.4 pct.
ISTAT confirms that inflation in 2000 grew by 2.5 pct according to the NIC index and grew by 2.6 pct according to the EU harmonised index.