(ANSA) - Rome, October 31 - Italian prices began to rise
again in October after two months of deflation, generating an
annual inflation rate of 0.1%, national statistical agency Istat
said Friday.
The data are still preliminary but may ease fears of
persistent deflation, triggered as the annual inflation rate
dropped to -0.1% in August, the first reduction in decades,
followed by an annual rate of -0.2% in September.
According to Istat, prices in Italy rose by 0.1% with
respect to September and were 0.1% higher with respect to
October 2013.
Still, with price increases remaining so weak, indicating
continued sluggishness in the economy, policy makers are likely
to remain concerned.
Further indications of an economy mired in a period of
extended weakness came with the latest unemployment figures
released Friday.
Those showed the jobless rate rose to 12.6% in September,
while youth unemployment stood at 42.9%.
Meanwhile, the cost of filling a shopping cart with food
and household goods edged up slightly in October compared with
the same time last year, Istat said.
The prices of food, home and personal care rose by 0.1%
compared with October 2013, but were unchanged from one month
ago, the agency said.
Italian prices go up again, ending deflation - update 2
Shopping cart of goods cost slightly more in October