Eurostat’s flash estimate: euro area annual inflation up to 1.4 percent

The Euro area annual inflation is expected to stand at 1.4 percent in March 2018, up from 1.1 percent in February, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat.

Looking at the main components of euro area inflation, food, alcohol and tobacco is expected to have the highest annual rate in March, namely 2.2 percent, compared with 1.0 percent in February. This category is followed by energy – 2.0 percent, compared with 2.1 percent in February, services – 1.5 percent, compared with 1.3 percent in February – and non-energy industrial goods – 0.2 percent, compared with 0.6 percent in February.

Annual inflation is the change of the price level between the current month and the same month of the previous year.

The euro area inflation flash estimate is issued at the end of each reference month.

The complete set of harmonised indices of consumer prices (HICP) for the euro area, EU and Member States is released around the middle of the month following the reference month.