Inflation in the EU below expectations!

• Annual inflation rate in the Euro Area fell to an eight-month low of 8.5% in January  from 9.2% in December, below market forecasts of 9%, preliminary estimates showed. 

• Core inflation remained unchanged at  5.2%, while markets expected drop to 5.1%.

• Unemployment rate 6.6% above market estimates of 6.5%..

• Inflation slowed in Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands, but edged higher in Spain and France. 

• The data for Germany inflation is not available though, as the country's statistical office had to delay the release of its own figures due to technical issues with data processing.

• In January, energy prices rose at a slower pace (17.2% vs 25.5%) and services inflation also eased (4.2% vs 4.4%) while cost increased faster for food, alcohol & tobacco (14.1% vs 13.8%) and non-energy industrial goods (6.9% vs 6.4%). Compared to the previous month, consumer prices fell 0.4%, the same as in December, led by a 0.9% decline in energy cost.

Source: ec.europa

Core inflation remains at record levels. Source: Bloomberg

EURUSD saw limited reactions to today’s inflation figures. Source: xStation5