Italy's annual inflation rate has fallen to 1.7% this month, down from 1.9% in April, according to a preliminary estimate released by Istat on Friday.
    The national statistics agency said the drop was driven by a deceleration of regulated energy prices, to +29.1% from +31.7% in April, and an increase in the drop in non-regulated energy prices, to -4.3% from -3.4%.
    But while the headline inflation figure was down, Istat said its shopping trolley index of the prices of food and household and personal care goods shot up from 2.6% in April to 3.1 in May.
    Istat linked this to an "acceleration of processed food prices, to +3.2% from +2.2%".
    It said core inflation (excluding energy and unprocessed food) fell to 2.0% in May from 2.1% in April.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA