EZ flash inflation for February was above consensus on both core and headline, setting the scene for the ECB meeting.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Services Stickiness Defies Expectations
- Eurozone flash inflation for February printed at an unrounded +2.58% Y/Y (vs +2.5% cons;+2.77% prior) while core (ex-energy/food) was +3.08% Y/Y (vs 2.9% cons; +3.27% prior).
- The main national releases in the lead-up to the Eurozone-wide print (France, Spain and Germany) came in firmer than expected on core measures, largely a result of stickiness in services. This led analysts to increase their estimates of the core EZ HICP rate to 3.0-3.2% Y/Y (from 2.9% previously).
- Overall, the stickiness in services inflation sets the scene for the upcoming ECB meeting (March 7), which features an updated set of macroeconomic projections.
- While the ECB's headline inflation forecast is likely to be revised lower (owing largely to lower natural gas prices), the same is not certain for core inflation, where disinflation progress has been slower than analyst projections (highlighted in the latest instance by the February flash print).
- Our review of February's preliminary Eurozone inflation data includes breakdowns and analysis of the national inflation prints and sell-side reactions.
FOR FULL PDF ANALYSIS:
(PDF corrected for typo in EZ headline HICP).
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