ISTANBUL

The eurozone's annual consumer inflation remained stable at 2.2% in April, matching market expectations, according to official data released on Monday.

The figure remained unchanged from the previous month, according to Eurostat data.

Energy prices fell 3.6% year-on-year in April, accelerating from -1% the previous month.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 2.7% annually in April, matching market estimates.

Services continued to have the highest annual inflation rate last month at 4%, compared to 3.5% in March.

Services were followed by food, alcohol, and tobacco at 3%, up from 2.9% the month before.

In the EU, the consumer price index rose 2.4%, but less than the previous month's 2.5%.

The lowest annual rates were seen in France (0.9%), Greek Cypriot (1.4%), and Denmark (1.5%), while the highest rates were recorded in Romania (4.9%), Estonia (4.4%), and Hungary (4.2%).

On a monthly basis, the eurozone consumer price index climbed 0.6%, also stable from the previous month and matching forecasts.

The eurozone/euro area, or EA20, represents member states that use the bloc's single currency, the euro, while the EU27 includes all of its member countries.