Eurozone inflation falls to -0.6%

(ANSA) - Brussels, January 30 - The annual rate of inflation across the eurozone fell in January to a -0.6% compared with a rate of 0-0.2% in December, Eurostat reported Friday. The fall in prices was attributed to lower energy costs, which dropped by 8.9% in January, and comes as the European Central Bank is pressing ahead with a controversial quantitative easing plan to boost growth and inflation. The rate was last this low in the middle of 2009, when the rate of inflation was negative for almost half the year.