--Eurostat: Euro zone Dec core CPI +0.1% on mo, +1.5% on yr
--Eurostat: Euro zone Dec energy prices -1.6% m/m, +11.3% on yr
--Eurostat: Euro zone Dec CPI ex. energy +0.2 m/m, +1.7% on yr
By BridgeNews
Brussels--Jan. 22--Helped by falling oil prices, euro-zone inflation eased to an annual rate of 2.6% in December from 2.9% in November. However, the number remains well above the European Central Bank's reference rate for price stability of price increases of less than 2% on average over a year.
* * * Once again the core measure (which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) revealed the extent of the continuing boost to headline inflation from oil and petrol products, rising only 1.5% on the year. However, excluding energy inflation was up marginally from November at 1.7% compared with 1.6%
Energy prices were up 11.3% on the year to December compared with 15.2% to November and 14.6% to October.
Eurostat pointed out that the highest rates had been seen in Ireland (4.6%), Luxembourg (4.3%) and Spain (4.0%). The lowest were seen in France (1.7%) and in euro outs: U.K. (0.9%) and Sweden (1.3%).
The agency pointed out that on a monthly basis, inflation fell in Belgium (-0.3%), in Ireland (-0.1%), in Netherlands (-0.5%) and in Finland (-0.2%). In Germany inflation rose 0.1 from November, the same as in Italy. In Spain it was up 0.3 and in France unchanged. Portugal and Austria both saw strong increases on the month (+0.4%).