The Italian statistical office Istat released its preliminary consumer price inflation data for Italy on Thursday. Preliminary consumer prices in Italy increased 0.2% in March, after a 0.2% fall in February.

The monthly increase was driven by rises in prices of services related to transport and of diesel for personal transport equipment. Prices for services related to transport rose 1.0% in March, while prices of diesel for personal transport equipment increased 2.5%.

On a yearly basis, consumer prices fell 0.2% in March, after a 0.3% decrease in February.

The decline was driven by lower prices for energy, which slid 7.0% year-on-year in March.

Prices for goods declined 1.0% year-on-year in March, while services prices rose 0.7%.

Consumer price inflation excluding unprocessed food and energy prices climbed to 0.6% year-on-year in March from 0.5% in February.