Istat says annual deflation continued, but food prices up

(ANSA) - Rome, February 27 - Deflation continued in Italy this month on an annualized basis, but at a slower rate, according to early estimates released Friday by national statistical institute Istat. It said that consumer prices fell by 0.2% compared with February 2014, but rose by 0.3% compared with last month. According to preliminary estimates, the Italian harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) rose by 0.3% compared with the previous month and by 0.1% with respect to February 2014 (up from -0.5% in January 2015), Istat said