Italian EU-harmonised consumer prices (HICP) rose 0.1% in June from the month before, with the annual inflation rate slowing to 3.1% from May's 3.2%, preliminary data showed on Tuesday, amid high energy costs due to turmoil in the Middle East.

The reading was slightly below a median forecast in a Reuters survey of 15 analysts which pointed to an increase of 0.2% month-on-month and a year-on-year rise of 3.2%.

Official statistics agency ISTAT also reported that the main domestic price index (NIC) was flat month-on-month in June and up 3.0% annually, following a 3.2% annual rate in May.

Core inflation (net of fresh food and energy) was running at 1.6% year-on-year on the HICP index in June, slowing from 1.8% in May.

ISTAT gave the following preliminary breakdown:

June

May

April

The EU-harmonised index (HICP)

Monthly change

0.1

0.3

1.6

Year-on-year inflation

3.1

3.2

2.8

Index (base 2025=100)

103.7

103.6

103.3

The NIC index:

Monthly change

0.0

0.4

1.1

Year-on-year inflation

3.0

3.2

2.7

Index (base 2025=100)

103.1

103.1

102.7