Eurozone inflation accelerated in April driven by higher energy prices, final data from Eurostat showed on Wednesday.
The harmonized index of consumer prices posted an annual increase of 3% in April, up from 2.6% in March. The rate matched the estimate published on April 30.
The rise in energy prices was largely due to the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the global oil and gas trade.
Meanwhile, core inflation that excludes prices of energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, softened to 2.2% in April, as estimated, from 2.3% in the previous month.
Among main components of HICP, energy registered the biggest annual growth of 10.8%. This was followed by the 3% rise in services costs. Food, alcohol and tobacco prices rose 2.4%and non-energy industrial goods prices gained 0.8%
On a monthly basis, the HICP climbed 1% in April. Eurostat confirmed the flash estimate.
