Euro-Area Inflation Picks Up as ECB Takes Baby Step Toward Exit
- Consumer prices rise annual 1.9%, beating 1.8% estimate
- Core inflation surges to fastest in almost four years
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Euro-area inflation bounced back to a level in line with the European Central Bank goal and underlying price growth surged, setting up a debate about an exit from unconventional stimulus that may lead to a policy signal in June.
Consumer prices rose an annual 1.9 percent in April after gaining 1.5 percent in March, according to Eurostat data published Friday. Economists predicted an increase of 1.8 percent. Core inflation, a measure that excludes volatile components such as food and energy prices, jumped to 1.2 percent, the most in almost four years and stronger than anticipated.