31.03.202609:00:00UTC+00Core Euro Zone Inflation Inches Higher in March as HICP ex Energy and Food Rises to 0.7%

Core inflation pressures in the Euro Zone strengthened slightly in March 2026, as the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices excluding energy and food (HICP ex Energy and Food) rose to 0.7% month-over-month. The uptick follows a 0.6% increase recorded in February 2026, according to data updated on 31 March 2026.

The month‑over‑month comparison shows that underlying price momentum, stripped of more volatile energy and food components, has picked up modestly between February and March. The “actual” figure for March compares the change in that month to February, while the “previous” figure reflects February’s change against January.

While the move from 0.6% to 0.7% is incremental, it suggests that core price dynamics in the currency bloc remain firm, potentially reinforcing the view that underlying inflation pressures have yet to ease decisively on a short-term basis.