Italian consumer prices remained unchanged on a monthly basis in June, while the annual inflation rate held steady at 3.0%, according to data reported by Nyhetsbyrån Direkt.
The figure came in below market expectations for a decline, signaling persistent price pressures in the eurozone's third-largest economy despite broader regional cooling.
4% in May. This divergence highlights the uneven nature of disinflation across the euro area, with southern economies continuing to grapple with stickier core price components than their northern counterparts.
The resilience of Italian inflation stands in sharp contrast to recent data from France, where consumer price growth decelerated to 1.8% year-on-year in June, down from 2.4% in May.
This divergence highlights the uneven nature of disinflation across the euro area, with southern economies continuing to grapple with stickier core price components than their northern counterparts.
The data adds nuance to the European Central Bank's outlook, which has been supported by a recent Consumer Expectations Survey showing that eurozone households have significantly lowered their inflation forecasts for the coming year.
While median expectations are trending downward, the Italian print suggests that underlying price pressures may remain elevated in key member states, potentially limiting the scope for aggressive monetary easing.