(supersedes previous).
(ANSA) - Rome, 30 - Italy's inflation rate fell from 0.6% in
April to 0.5% in March while the trolley of most frequently
bought items was virtually unchanged, Istat said Friday.
Food prices posted their biggest drop since 2010 in a sign
that the economy is continuing to struggle, the statistics
agency said.
The monthly drop in overall inflation was 0.1, Istat said.
Lower inflation is good for savers but usually a sign the
economy is not as active as it could be.
Italy is trying, but failing, to get out of its longest
postwar recession.
The prices of the most frequently bought goods in Italy's
inflation trolley rose 0.1% in May on an annual and monthly
basis, the lowest rise since July 2010, Istat said.
The cost of food, household maintenance and personal care
was almost unchanged, Istat noted as the country keeps suffering
a vicious economic pinch.
Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices fell an annual 0.2%
in May, the biggest drop since June 2010, Istat said in another
sign of the flatlining economy.
Seasonal factors were behind the drop, especially for fruit
and vegetables hit by unseasonable weather, the statistics
agency said.
Italy posted negative growth of 0.1% in the first quarter
of 2014 after positive growth of 0.1% in the last quarter of
2013, the only up-blip in its longest postwar recession.
Inflation drops to 0.5% in May
Food prices post biggest drop since 2010