Italy's inflation rate rises to 1.5% in February

ROME, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 18th Mar, 2026) Italy's annual inflation rate rose to 1.5 percent in February from 1.0 percent in January, statistics agency Istat said, according to ANSA.

The consumer price index rose 0.7 percent month-on-month. Istat revised down its preliminary estimate of a 1.6 percent annual increase and a 0.8 percent monthly rise.

The “shopping trolley” index, which tracks prices of food, household goods and personal care products, rose by 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent in January.

Core inflation - excluding energy and fresh food - leapt from 1.7 percent in January to 2.4 percent in February.

"The significant acceleration is mainly due to price changes in recreational, cultural, and personal care services (+4.9 percent) and transportation services (+2.9 percent); prices of unprocessed food (+3.7 percent) also contribute to the overall inflationary trend," Istat said.