BRUSSELS (AFX) - The euro zone's harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) rose a provisional 0.4 pct in March from February, giving a 2.6 pct year-on-year rise, said the EU's Eurostat statistical office.
In the the EU, the HICP rose 0.4 pct on a monthly basis and by 2.3 year-on-year, Eurostat said.
In February, the euro zone's monthly rise was 0.6 pct and 2.6 on a yearly basis, and in the EU 0.5 and 2.3.
Earlier this week, analysts said they expected a March euro zone monthly HICP rise of 0.1-0.4 pct and a yearly rise of 2.3-2.6.
In the euro zone, the rise in March prices of all items, excluding energy, was 0.4 pct on a monthly basis and 2.3 on an annual basis, it said.
Energy items fell 0.1 pct from Feb, and were up 5.6 from Mar 2000, while food, alcohol and tobacco rose 0.8 and 3.9, it said.
Sharpest monthly sub-index rises were clothing 2.2 pct, food 0.9, and household equipment 0.5, while there were falls of 0.3 pct in communications and in recreation and culture, it said.
Among countries, sharpest monthly rises were Greece 2.3 pct, Netherlands 1.2, Ireland 0.8, and Luxembourg 0.6, it said.
Sharpest annual rises were Portugal 5.1 pct, Netherlands 4.9, Ireland 4.1, Spain 4.0, and Greece 3.2, it said.