Economics

Euro-Area Inflation Unexpectedly Hits Record in Test for ECB

  • Consumer prices increased 5% in December; analysts saw 4.8%
  • Confidence in region also dipped amid emergence of omicron

Euro-area consumer prices have jumped 5% from a year earlier.

Photographer: Angel Garcia/Bloomberg
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Inflation in the euro region accelerated beyond already record levels, defying expectations for a slowdown and complicating the task for European Central Bank officials who insist the current spike is temporary. The euro strengthened.