Deflation returns with 0.3% drop (2)

(ANSA) - Rome, February 29 - Price deflation returned to Italy after nine months in February, with an annual inflation rate of -0.3%, according to preliminary data released by Istat on Monday. The national statistics agency added that this was the biggest fall in prices since January 2015. On a month-on-month basis, Italy's consumer price index was 0.2% down with respect to January. Last month the annual inflation rate was positive, at 0.2%, while the month-on-month rate was -0.2%.