Eurozone inflation in unexpected rise
Eurozone inflation jumped more than expected in January, rising well above the European Central Bank’s target in what is likely to fuel market speculation the ECB might have to raise interest rates sooner than thought.
The European Union’s statistics office Eurostat estimated on Monday that consumer prices in the 17 countries using the euro rose 2.4 per cent year-on-year in January after a 2.2 per cent rise in December. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a 2.3 per cent rise.
The ECB wants to keep inflation below, but close ton two per cent. No monthly figure or breakdown of the year-on-year estimate was available from Eurostat, but economists have blamed higher inflation mainly on more expensive energy and food.
The ECB has said it expected prices to grow faster than its target in the coming months, peaking at 2.4 percent in March and then subside again.
European Central Bank Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny said last Tuesday he did not