In March 2018, according to preliminary estimates, the Italian consumer price index for the whole nation (NIC) increased by 0.4% on monthly basis and by 0.9% compared with March 2017 (it was +0.5% in February 2018).

In March, the recovery of inflation was due to several reasons. The main reason was the trend reversal of prices of Food including alcohol, driven by the acceleration of Processed food including alcohol (+2.5%, from +1.3% in February) and by the wide reduction of the decrease of Unprocessed food (-0.4% from -3.2%). Other contributions to the recovery of inflation came from Tobacco (+2.2% from +0.3% in February) and Services related to transport (+2.5%, from +1.9%).