Euro zone inflation hit 2.7% for the second month in a row in June as it remained well above the target set by the European Central Bank, new official EU data has shown.
Inflation had eased slightly in May to 2.7% after reaching a 30-month peak of 2.8% in April.
Inflation in the 17-nation single currency area has now exceeded the ECB's 2.0% target for seven consecutive months.
The central bank raised its benchmark lending rate to 1.25% in April and signalled that it may raise it again in July.
