Eurozone inflation rate dips but still remains positive
Jun 30, 2015, 2:30 AM
BRUSSELS (AP) — Official figures show that inflation across the 19-country eurozone eased in the year to June to 0.2 percent from 0.3 percent the month before.
Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency, says Tuesday the fall in inflation was primarily due to a 5.1 percent drop in energy prices.
Still, this is the third month in a row that the inflation rate has not been negative. Earlier this year, when prices were falling, there were fears the eurozone was set for a potentially debilitating period of deflation — falling prices can weigh on economic activity by making consumers postpone purchases.
In a separate release, Eurostat said the eurozone unemployment rate was unchanged in May at 11.1 percent. The number of people out of work stood at 17.7 million in May.
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