Eurozone December preliminary CPI +2.9% vs +3.0% y/y expected

<ul><li>Prior +2.4%</li><li>Core CPI +3.4% vs +3.5% y/y expected</li><li>Prior +3.6%</li></ul><p>Headline annual inflation may show a jump in price pressures but core annual inflation actually eased slightly further in December to 3.4%, down from 3.6% in November. As such, this still reaffirms the ECB's case to remain in pause mode at least for the time being. However, if price pressures start to become stickier in and around the 3% mark, that may see policymakers struggle to sell any talk of an imminent pivot. So, we'll see.</p>

This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.