Prices should rise at a faster pace for processed food, alcohol & tobacco (2.2 percent vs 1.8 percent in January), unprocessed food (2.9 percent vs 1.8 percent) and energy (3.5 percent vs 2.7 percent). Meanwhile, non-energy industrial goods prices are set to rise 0.3 percent, the same pace as in the previous month, while services inflation is expected to slow to 1.3 percent from 1.6 percent.
The annual core inflation, which excludes volatile prices of energy, food, alcohol & tobacco and at which the ECB looks in its policy decisions, is likely to edge lower to 1 percent in February from 1.1 percent in the previous month and slightly below market consensus of 1.1 percent.
