The annual inflation rate stood at 1.3% in the Eurozone and at 1.5% in the European Union in March, or an increase of 0.2% and 0.1% respectively compared to February, according to figures published by the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) on Wednesday 18 April.
However, these rates are down compared to those registered in March 2017, of 1.5% and 1.6% in the Eurozone and the EU respectively (see EUROPE 11770).
This overall rate for the EU, moreover, hides very different national situations. For instance, the annual inflation rates registered in Cyprus (-0.4%), Greece (0.2%) and Denmark (0.5%) are a long way below those of Lithuania and Slovakia (2.5%), Estonia (2.9%) and, in particular, Romania (4.0%).
Looking at the components of the annual inflation of the Eurozone, services contributed the most to the increase in prices, at a level of 0.67%. This is followed by food, alcohol & tobacco (0.41%), energy (0.20%) and non-energy industrial goods (0.07%). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)