Deflation in 22 cities, including Rome and Milan

(ANSA) - Rome, April 14 - Istat on Thursday confirmed its preliminary estimate that Italy had a annual inflation rate of -0.2% in March. Italian deflation was even higher in February, when the annual inflation rate was -0.3%. However, the national statistics agency said its consumer price index rose in month-on-month terms in March, with a 0.2% rise with respect to February 2016.
    Istat said that the number of Italian cities enduring price deflation rose to 22 in March, up from 20 in February. These cities include Rome, which had a annual inflation rate of -0.5%, along with Florence (-0.4%), Naples (-0.1%) and Milan (-0.1%). The cities suffering the biggest price falls were Bari and Potenza, which both had inflation rates of -1%.