07/01/25 (Agence Europe) – Annual inflation in the euro area was 2.4% in December 2024, compared with 2.2% the previous month, according to a flash estimate published by the Statistical Office of the European Union. The highest price rises were seen in Croatia (4.5%), Belgium (4.4%) and Estonia (4.1%), while the lowest inflation was measured in Ireland (1.0%), Italy (1.4%) and Luxembourg (1.6%). Price rises were moderate in France (1.8%) and sustained in Germany and Spain (both 2.8%). In terms of the main components of inflation in the euro area, services is expected to record the highest annual rate in December (4.0%, compared with 3.9% in November), followed by food, alcohol & tobacco (2.7%, stable compared with November), non-energy industrial goods (0.5%, compared with 0.6% in November) and energy (0.1%, compared with -2.0% in November). (MB)