Inflation at close to 3-year low in September
According to a preliminary estimate released by Eurostat on 1 October, harmonized inflation inched down to 0.9% in September from August’s 1.0%, printing the lowest reading in close to three years. The result is below the European Central Bank’s target rate of near, but under, 2.0%. The deceleration was due to a softer increase in the prices for food, alcohol and tobacco, and services as well as to a sharper drop in energy prices.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and unprocessed foods prices, inched up to 1.2% from August’s 1.1%.
A complete set of data for harmonized inflation will be released 16 October.