Preliminary data published by Eurostat showed that the eurozone annual inflation did not change in April, confirming economists' expectations. Meanwhile, core inflation declined again, and reached its lowest level since February 2022, which strengthens the case for the start of the ECB's monetary policy easing cycle. Earlier, the ECB clearly signaled an interest rate cut at the June meeting, provided there is no nasty surprise in wage or price developments.
According to the report, the consumer price index rose by 2.4% per year after a similar increase in March. Economists also expected an increase of 2.4%. Meanwhile, on a monthly basis, the consumer price index rose by 0.6%, slowing compared to March (+0.8%).
Eurostat reported that the core consumer price index - energy, food, alcohol & tobacco - rose by 2.7% per year after an increase of 2.9% per year in February. Economists had expected an increase of 2.6% per annum.
The data showed that the annual growth of the overall consumer price index was due to an increase in the cost of services (+3.7% vs. +4.0% in March), food, alcohol & tobacco (+2.8% vs. +2.6%) and non-energy industrial goods (+0.9% vs. +1.1%). Meanwhile, energy prices fell by 0.6% per annum after declining by 1.8% per annum in March.