Eurozone consumer price index rises 2.8%; growth rate is lower than last month for the first time in two months. By country, growth rates decreased from the previous month in Germany, Europe's largest economy, at 3.1%, and 3.4% in France.
But growth rates in Spain increased to 3.5%, and Italy increased by 0.9%. The inflation rate in the euro area has been declining at the 2% level for four consecutive months, but the European Central Bank left its main policy interest rate unchanged.