The core inflation rate eases in August to 5.3%, at its lowest since May

MADRID, 31 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The year-on-year inflation rate in the euro zone has remained stable in August at 5.3%, which means repeating the lowest increase in prices since January 2022, according to the first estimate by Eurostat, which places Spain and Belgium as the countries in the region with the lowest price increase, with 2.4% in both cases.

The evolution of prices in the euro zone in August was mainly due to the lower drop in the cost of energy, with a drop of 3.3%, compared to the decrease of 6.1% in July, while the increase in the cost of fresh food moderated to 7.8% from 9.2%.

Likewise, in the case of services, prices rose 5.5% year-on-year, one tenth less than in July, while non-energy industrial goods became more expensive two tenths less than the previous month, with a rise of 4. 8%

Excluding the impact of energy from the calculation, the year-on-year rate of inflation in the euro zone in August stood at 6.3%, compared to 6.7% in the previous month, while also excluding the impact of price For food, alcohol and tobacco, the core inflation rate eased to 5.3% from 5.5%, its lowest level since May.

Among the 20, the lowest annual inflation rates were registered in Belgium and Spain (both 2.4%), while the most intense rises in prices corresponded to Slovakia (9.6%), ahead of Croatia (8 .5%) and from Austria (7.6%).

The rise in the harmonized inflation rate in Spain from 2.1% in July to 2.4% in August reduces the favorable price differential with respect to the euro area average to 2.9 percentage points, compared to 3. 2 of the previous month.