In the euro zone, inflation accelerated to 2.9 percent in December

According to expert expectations, inflation was higher at 3 percent for December. In December, consumer prices increased by 0.2 percent compared to November, when they decreased by 0.6 percent.

In an annual comparison, energy prices fell the most in December, by 6.7 percent after the 11.5 percent fall in November. The largest price increase was still in the combined range of food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, 6.1 percent in December after 6.9 percent in November.

After deducting the price of energy, food and leisure items, the annual price increase (core inflation) decreased to 3.4 percent from 3.6 percent in November instead of the expected 3.5 percent.

The highest annual inflation rates were recorded in Slovakia (6.6 percent), Austria (5.7 percent) and Croatia (5.4 percent). The lowest price increases were in Belgium and Italy, both 0.5 percent, and in Latvia, 0.9 percent.
Eurostat will announce the final inflation figures for December on January 17.