Inflation in the eurozone: decrease to 2.3%, but above forecasts

According to Eurostat, in February, the inflation rate in the eurozone countries decreased to 2.4%, which slightly exceeded analysts' forecasts, which expected a decrease to 2.3%. In January, this indicator was at 2.5%. 

At the end of last year, in the fourth quarter, inflation showed acceleration, but the European Central Bank remains confident of reaching the target level set at around 2%. According to the minutes of the ECB's January meeting, published recently, the regulator's representatives believed that inflation was gradually moving towards the target target, despite some existing risks and uncertainties. 

The next ECB meeting is scheduled for this week. According to experts, it may result in another reduction in the interest rate, which will be the sixth reduction in a row since the beginning of monetary policy easing in June last year. 

Information on the dynamics of inflation in the eurozone appeared against the background of fresh data from key economies in the region. According to these data, inflation in Germany remained at 2.8%, while in France there was a sharp slowdown in this indicator to 0.9%.