EC says euro zone inflation under control

The European Commission says inflation in the euro zone is "well under control".

The Eurostat early estimate for August inflation shows the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices up 2.1 per cent.

Commission spokesman Mr Jonathan Faull says prospects for inflation are good. "Inflation in the euro zone, and in the European Union as a whole, is well under control".

Another spokesman said the Eurostat estimate "is in line with the inflation profile foreseen by the Commission in its spring forecasts".

The estimate is slightly above economists' expectations for 2 per cent inflation in August, compared with July's figure of 1.9 per cent. PA