31/03/2026 (Agence Europe) – Annual inflation in the euro area is estimated at 2.5% in March 2026, compared with 1.9% in February, according to a flash estimate published by the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) on Tuesday 31 March. The highest rates were estimated at 4.7% in Croatia and 4.5% in Lithuania, and the lowest at 1.5% in Italy and Cyprus. According to Eurostat, inflation was moderate in France (1.9%), sustained in Germany (2.8%) and vigorous in Spain (3.3%). Looking at the main components of inflation in the euro area, energy is expected to have the highest annual rate in March (4.9%, compared with -3.1% in February), followed by services (3.2%, compared with 3.4% in February), food, alcohol and tobacco (2.4%, compared with 2.5% in February) and industrial goods excluding energy (0.5%, compared with 0.7% in February). (BD)