February's 9.8% annual rate was down from +10.7% in January. The main domestic price index (NIC), rose 0.2% on the month and increased 9.1% annually, declining from a 10.0% annual rate in January. However, core inflation (net of fresh food and energy) rose to +7.0% year-on-year on the HICP index in February, up from +6.6% in the month before.
ISTAT gave the following details:
The EU-harmonised index (HICP):
FEB JAN DEC Monthly change +0.1r -1.5 +0.2 Yr/yr inflation +9.8r +10.7 +12.3 Index (base 2015=100) 119.4r 119.3 121.1
The NIC index:
Monthly change +0.2r +0.1 +0.3
Yr-on-yr inflation +9.1r +10.0 +11.6
Index (base 2015=100) 119.3r 119.1 119.0
(Reporting by Chiara Bontacchio; editing by Valentina
Consiglio)