Italy September EU-harmonised CPI rises to 1.8% y/y, slightly above forecast

ROME (Reuters) -Italian EU-harmonised consumer prices (HICP) rose by a preliminary 1.3% month-on-month in September, with annual inflation increasing to 1.8%, data showed on Tuesday.

The reading was slightly above a median forecast in a Reuters survey of 8 analysts, which pointed to an increase of 1.1% month-on-month and a year-on-year rise of 1.7%.

Official statistics agency ISTAT also reported that the main domestic price index (NIC) was down 0.2% on the month and up 1.6% annually in September, following a 1.6% annual rate in August.

Core inflation (net of fresh food and energy) was stable at 2.2% year-on-year on the HICP index in September.

(Reporting by Antonella Cinelli, graphic by Stefano Bernabei, editing by Gavin Jones)