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Prices From Germany to Italy Signal Weakening Deflation Risks
Consumer prices from Germany to Italy and Spain signaled an easing of deflation risks in the euro area as the European Central Bank prepares to unleash quantitative easing. In Italy, inflation was 0.1 percent this month, better than the minus 0.3 percent rate forecast by economists in a Bloomberg News survey. Data from four German states before national data later on Friday also showed improvement, while Spanish prices fell less than estimated. Plunging oil costs have damped inflation across the globe, including in the U.S. and the euro area, where consumer prices fell 0.6 percent in January. While the latest data, ... (full story)