ROME, May 31. Inflation in Italy in May slowed down compared to the previous month, although it remained unchanged compared with the same period last year. At this point released Tuesday, preliminary data from a national statistics agency Istat.According to the data, the consumer price index / CPI / in May rose by 0.1% compared to the previous month and 2.6% over the same period last year. In April the consumer price index rose by 0,5%.
Annual price increases in May coincided with an increase in April, when the consumer price index grew at the fastest pace since November 2008.
These data are roughly coincided with the forecast of economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires, according to which the index would grow by 0,2% compared to the previous month and 2.6% over the same period last year.
Harmonised index of consumer prices in Italy, which allows for more discounts offered for promotional purposes, and is a key indicator of inflation for the European Central Bank / ECB / in May rose by 0.2% compared to the previous month.
Annual core inflation, which ignores volatile energy prices and fresh food, in May was 1.8%, remained unchanged compared with April.
Without taking into account energy price inflation was 2.1% versus 2.0% in April.
In the spring of this year, the ECB would raise interest rate to 1.25%, seeking to prevent the growth of inflationary expectations.
Annual inflation in commodity prices in May was 3.0%, while prices of services rose by 2,3%.
Rising energy prices, which account for about 8% of the total price growth slowed in May. They rose 0.1% compared to the previous month and 9.8% compared with the same period last year. In April, prices jumped by 1.9% compared to the previous month and 10.7% compared with the same period last year.
