Preliminary data provided by the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed that in December consumer price growth accelerated to 2.8% per year from 2.4% per year in November. The latest reading was the highest since July (2.8%). Economists had expected CPI growth of 2.6% per annum. This evolution is mainly due to the increase in fuel prices, compared with the decrease in December 2023. Also, although to a lesser extent, leisure and culture prices increased more than in the same month of the previous year.
Core CPI - excluding energy and fresh food - rose by 2.6% per year (the highest value since August) after an increase of 2.4% per year in November. Consensus estimates suggested an increase of 2.7% per annum.
On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.4%, accelerating from November (+0.2%). Economists expected a 0.3% increase.
The data also showed that in December, the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) - an indicator that allows comparing inflation in Spain with inflation in European countries - increased by 0.4% compared to November and by 2.8% per year (the highest value since July). Economists expected an increase of 0.2% and 2.6%, respectively. In November, HICP remained unchanged on a monthly basis and rose by 2.4% per year.