BERLIN, April 29 (Reuters) – German inflation slightly accelerated in April due to surging energy prices against the backdrop of the war in Iran.
Inflation rose to 2.9% year-on-year, preliminary data from the national statistics office showed on Wednesday.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast the EU-harmonised consumer price index to increase to 3.1% from the 2.8% reported for March.
Energy prices were up 10.1% compared with the same month of the last year.
The core inflation index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, fell to 2.3% in April from 2.5% in March.
The German data comes ahead of the euro zone inflation release on Thursday. Inflation in the bloc is expected at 2.9% in April, up from 2.6% in the previous month, according to economists polled by Reuters.
The European Central Bank is expected to keep interest rates on hold at a meeting on Thursday, but hikes are likely to be on the table at the next meeting in June.
(Reporting by Maria Martinez and Linda Pasquini, editing by Thomas Seythal)
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