Inflation in the 13 nations sharing the euro surged to 2.6% in October. This is the highest level in more than two years, according to a first estimate from the EU's Eurostat data agency.
The rate, the highest since September 2005, exceeded economists' forecasts for 2.3% and was well above the European Central Bank's preferred level of close to but less than 2%.
It also marked a sharp up-tick from September when annual inflation in the euro zone was 2.1%.
The jump in inflation comes amid surging oil prices, which hit a record high $93.80 a barrel on Monday.
Eager to keep inflation under control, the ECB has raised euro zone borrowing costs a total of eight times since December 2005, each time by a quarter of a percentage point.
