March 1, 2006	Wednesday	Muharram 30, 1427

BRUSSELS, Feb 28: Inflation in the 12 countries using the euro in the 12 months to the end of January rose to 2.4 per cent from 2.2 per cent in December, the European Union’s Eurostat data agency said Tuesday.

The result, which compared with 1.9pc for the same month in 2005, confirmed an initial estimate from Eurostat and was also spot on private economists’ forecasts. Inflation in the 25-nation European Union meanwhile rose to 2.2 per cent in January from 2.1 per cent the previous month.

The eurozone rate shows that inflation is inching back up to a peak of 2.6pc hit last Sept as oil prices resume their upward climb after an autumn respite.—AFP