ITALY DATA: Preliminary December HICP rose 0.3% m/m,.

ITALY DATA: Preliminary December HICP rose 0.3% m/m, 3.7% y/y, the
same y/y increase as in November. The preliminary data would bring the
average HICP increase for 2011 to +2.9% y/y, up from +1.6% in 2010.
–The preliminary main domestic index (NIC) rose 0.4% m/m and 3.3% y/y,
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. –Based on preliminary data,
2011 average NIC CPI rose +2.8% y/y (2010 1.5%), posting the highest
average annual gain since 2008, ISTAT said.