Inflation in the eurozone rose to 1.3 percent on an annual basis in December, from 1 percent in November. The European statistics agency Eurostat reported this on the basis of a provisional figure.
The figure corresponds to the average expectation of economists. Core inflation, excluding the impact of sharply fluctuating prices for energy and food and beverages, remained stable at 1.3 percent.
Retail sales in the euro zone increased by 1 percent on a monthly basis in November. The European statistics agency Eurostat reported this.
Economists expected on average that sales would increase by 0.7 percent. In October, retail sales in the euro area declined by a revised 0.3 percent.
Retail sales across the European Union increased by 0.6 percent in November, after falling by 0.2 percent a month earlier.