Euro zone 12-month inflation spiked to 2.6% in September from 2.2% in August, according to the EU's statistics agency today. The figure was higher than forecasts by analysts for a rate of 2.4%.
It showed that inflation in the 12 countries using the euro single currency has continued its recent rise well above the European Central Bank's preferred level of close to but below 2%. Past rises in euro zone inflation have been put down to soaring energy costs.
Analysts and policymakers have been concerned that the higher costs will have a knock-on effect on other prices and wages, causing a spurt in inflation.
