German consumer prices inch up again in February
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31848275 Version 0 of 1. German consumer prices rose in February, after January's fall. Germany's federal statistics office Destatis said the annual rate of inflation rose 0.1% last month. Prices fell into negative territory in January as Germany's consumer price index (CPI) dropped 0.4%. But according to the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP), the European Central Bank's preferred figure, Germany is yet to exit its deflationary period. Germany's HICP index fell 0.1% in February. The eurozone has struggled with downward pricing pressures for several months, with countries including Spain and Italy falling into deflation. Eurozone inflation has been below the bank's target of 2%, or just below, since the start of 2013. The low oil price continues to weigh on overall prices. The price of oil products fell 15.1% in Germany in February. The ECB began its government bond buying programme on Monday. It will buy bonds worth €1.14tn over the next 18 months in a move which is expected to boost prices in the eurozone. |