• Prior +2.4%
• Core CPI +3.4% vs +3.5% y/y expected
• Prior +3.6%

Headline annual inflation may show a jump in price pressures but core annual inflation actually eased slightly further in December to 3.4%, down from 3.6% in November. As such, this still reaffirms the ECB’s case to remain in pause mode at least for the time being. However, if price pressures start to become stickier in and around the 3% mark, that may see policymakers struggle to sell any talk of an imminent pivot. So, we’ll see.

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.