Italy: Inflation stable in December
January 16, 2018
According to revised data released by the National Statistical Institute (Istat) on 16 January, consumer prices rose 0.4% on a monthly basis in December, contrasting November’s 0.2% drop and confirming the preliminary estimate. The figure mainly reflected higher prices for services related to transport and non-regulated energy products. Meanwhile, inflation came in at 0.9% in December, matching the previous month’s print.
Core consumer prices, which exclude more volatile categories such as unprocessed food and energy, grew 0.3% in December month-on-month, contrasting November’s 0.4% fall. Core inflation was 0.4% in December, mirroring November’s reading. Finally, harmonized inflation came in at 1.0%, marginally below November’s 1.1%.
Italy Inflation Forecast
FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect inflation of 1.4% in 2018, which is unchanged from last month’s projection. For 2019, panelists expect inflation to average 1.5%.
