Euro zone inflation eased to 2.5% in July after two consecutive months at 2.7%, the Eurostat data agency said today.
Inflation had stood at 2.7% in May and June after reaching a 30-month peak of 2.8% in April.
Inflation in the 17-nation single currency area has now exceeded the European Central Bank's 2% target for eight consecutive months. In response, the ECB raised its benchmark lending rate to 1.5% this month after raising it to 1.25% in April.
