Inflation in Italy drops to 9.2 percent

The trend of the past few weeks is consolidating and, above all thanks to the reduction in the cost of energy, inflation falls: in February, according to preliminary estimates by Istat, it drops to 9.2 per cent on an annual low. Last month it was 10 percent.

The decrease, explains the comment of the Statistical Institute, is due “the easing of tensions on the prices of energy goods, both for the regulated and non-regulated component“: from minus 12.0 percent to minus 16.7 in the first case, and from plus 59.3 percent to plus 40.8 in the second.

“However – continues the note – the upward pressure on prices in the sector of processed and non-processed food goods, tobacco and services continues, all of which tend to accelerate“. On this last point, compared to January, the “shopping cart” (i.e. food, home and personal care products) rises to 13 percent, after the slowdown observed in January (it was 12 percent).

In the meantime, report Eurostat this morning, annual inflation in the euro area fell to 8.5 per cent in February, compared to 8.6 per cent in January. A minimal improvement, which however fits into a positive picture for Italy . Especially in consideration of the data that comes for example from Germany, where the rate of price increases is estimated at 8.7 per cent for February, stable compared to January but higher than expected. Or from Spain: here consumer prices returned to growth on an annual basis, reaching 6.1 per cent from 5.9 per cent in January (expectations spoke of a stable figure). The growth is due to the increase of 1 percent, on a monthly scale.

A similar trend is also recorded in France: according to the French National Statistical Institute (Insee), consumer prices grow on an annual basis by 6.2 percent, compared to 6 percent in the month. While on a monthly basis the increase is 0.9 percent.