Overview
- Istat preliminary data for June put annual headline inflation at 3.0%, down from 3.2% in May.
- Prices for fresh food and certain services cooled, and the consumer basket known as the “carrello della spesa” slowed from 1.9% to 1.6%.
- Energy costs rose sharply, with regulated energy up from +5.6% to +9.3% and non‑regulated energy edging from +12.5% to +12.9%, increasing energy's weight in headline inflation.
- Core inflation excluding energy and fresh food ticked down from 1.7% to 1.6%, while reports disagree on month‑to‑month movement with one source showing a 0.2% rise and another saying prices were unchanged.
- The EU‑harmonised index fell slightly to 3.1% and the inflation ‘acquis’ for 2026 remains 2.6%, a mixed signal for policymakers and a reminder that everyday goods still rise faster than the headline rate, keeping household budgets under strain.