ITALY DATA: Final December HICP rose 0.3% m/m, 3.7% y/y, the same y/y
increase as in November. The rise brings the average HICP increase for
2011 to +2.9% y/y, up from +1.6% in 2010 and the highest annual average
gain since 2008, ISTAT said. The main domestic index (NIC) rose 0.4%
m/m and 3.3% y/y, also the same y/y rise as in November.
Core NIC Inflation was stable at +2.4% y/y (same y/y rise as Nov);
while net of energy the y/y rate slowed to +2.3% from +2.4% in November.
2011 average NIC CPI rose +2.8% y/y (2010 1.5%), posting the highest
average annual gain since 2008, ISTAT said.