MADRID (AFX) - Consumer prices rose 0.4 pct in March from February, and were up 3.9 pct from a year earlier, the National Statistics Institute (INE) said.
In February, consumer prices rose 0.3 pct from the previous month and 3.8 pct from a year earlier.
Analysts had forecast consumer prices to rise 0.3-0.5 pct from February and to be 3.7-3.9 pct above the year earlier level.
INE said underlying inflation -- excluding food and energy product prices -- rose 0.4 pct in March from February and was up 3.3 pct from a year earlier.