Annual inflation in the 12-nation euro zone jumped to 2.5% in October from 2.1% the previous month, driven by surging oil prices, according to the Eurostat statistics office.
Citing provisional figures, Eurostat said Germany, the largest euro zone economy, saw consumer prices rise 0.3% in October from September and 2.1% on the year.
Excluding gasoline and heating fuel, the annual price hike would have been between 0.4 and 0.8 points less, according to the German statistics office.
The European Central Bank contends that the desired level of annual inflation in the euro zone is just under 2%. Both the bank and the European Union executive commission voiced concern this week about the negative impact on growth of rising oil prices.
The Eurostat projection of 2.5% eclipsed expert expectations of 2.4%, with some analysts foreseeing a figure lower than 2.5% when definitive findings are released on November 17.
