The euro zone returned to inflation in June after four consecutive months of falling or stable prices, new data confirmed on Friday, although the modest 0.1 percent annual rate provides the European Central Bank with only limited comfort.

Euro zone prices rose 0.1 per cent year-on-year, Eurostat said, confirming its initial estimate of two weeks ago. Month-on-month, the increase was 0.2 per cent.

The ECB's Governing Council meets next Thursday to determine whether its monthly purchase of €80 billion of assets, along with zero interest rates and free loans offered to banks, are sufficient to prevent a deflationary spiral.

The annual rate was at least positive in June, but is well short of the ECB’s target of just below 2 per cent. Prices had not risen in the 19 countries using the euro since January, with deflation in three of the subsequent four months and a zero reading for March.

The ECB has promised to take any action needed to preserve financial stability after Britain voted on June 23rd to leave the European Union. The Bank of England shocked markets on Thursday by not cutting interest rates as it awaits data showing the impact of the referendum vote.

Core inflation, which excludes the most volatile components of unprocessed food and energy, was unchanged at 0.8 per cent in June. The narrower inflation indicator, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco products, rose to 0.9 per cent from 0.8 per cent in May. Both were the same as initial estimates.

Energy prices fell in June, but the decline slowed to 6.4 per cent from a 8.1 per cent drop recorded in May. Month-on-month, they were 1.7 per cent higher.

Prices for services, the biggest component of the euro zone economy, rose 1.1 per cent year-on-year, the strongest increase among the main components of the inflation index. They rose 1 per cent in May.

Reuters