FX.co ★ Core Euro Zone Inflation Eases to 2.2% in March, Edging Closer to ECB Target

Core inflation in the Euro Zone, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) excluding energy and food, eased slightly in March 2026, signaling a continued moderation in underlying price pressures. The year-over-year rate slipped to 2.2% in March, down from 2.3% in February 2026.

The data, updated on 31 March 2026, show that core inflation is moving gradually closer to the European Central Bank’s medium-term inflation goal, with the March figure reflecting a marginal slowdown in price growth for goods and services outside the more volatile energy and food components. Both the current and previous readings compare each month’s price changes with the same month a year earlier, underscoring a steady, if cautious, disinflation trend within the bloc.