Annual inflation in the 13-nation euro zone eased in August to 1.7% despite expectations for the rate to hold steady at 1.8%.
The European Central Bank prefers an annual inflation rate of less than but close to 2.0% to maintain price stability.
The latest figure marks the twelfth consecutive month that euro zone inflation remains in line with the ECB's preference.
The rate, the lowest since October 2006, showed that inflation was tamer than both the Eurostat data agency and private-sector economists had forecast.
The ECB has raised euro zone borrowing costs eight times since December 2005, each time by 0.25%, in an effort to control inflation as the economy performs well.
Eurostat's data showed that the trend in underlying consumer prices growth remained stable as inflation excluding volatile energy, alcohol, tobacco and food prices held steady for the six-months running in August at 1.9%.
But inflation excluding energy and fresh food prices moved slightly higher to 2.0% from 1.9% in July.
The figures also showed inflation in the 27-nation European Union falling in August to 2.1% from 2.3% in July.
