Italy's Inflation Rate Sees a Slight Increase

In a recent update from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat), Italy's annual inflation rate has risen to 1.7% in February, up from 1.5% in January. This figure, slightly higher than what analysts had predicted, marks a continued trend of inflation in the country.

Key Drivers Behind the Inflation Increase

The primary factors contributing to this uptick in inflation include higher prices for regulated energy products, as well as increases in the cost of both unprocessed and processed food items. Despite these rises, there has been a notable moderation in the prices of transport-related and communication services.

Core Inflation Remains Steady

Interestingly, the annual core inflation rate, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, remained stable at 1.8%. Additionally, the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) showed a 1.7% increase year-over-year and a 0.1% rise month-over-month, indicating a steady but controlled inflation rate.