Inflation in the euro zone held steady in July at 0.2%, according to the European Union’s statistics agency.
The rate matches the one recorded by Eurostat in June, but is lower than the 0.4% inflation rate recorded in July 2014.
The European Central Bank aims for inflation of around 2% and has undertaken a quantitative easing programme in order to push the rate closer to that level.
During July the inflation rate in the wider European Union was 0.1% - again on a par with June and below the figure for July 2014.
According to Eurostat, eleven member states had negative inflation during the month, with Cyprus recording the sharpest drop at -2.4%.
Malta had the highest rate of inflation across the 28 countries at 1.2%, followed closely by Austria with 1.1%.
Ireland’s rate matched the euro zone average at 0.2% - compared to a negative inflation figure of -0.3% last year.
Eurostat said that in the month prices in restaurants and cafés were slightly higher in the euro zone, as were tobacco prices and rents.
The price of transport fuels, heating oils and dairy products fell, however.
