German consumer prices inch up again in February

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31848275

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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.