According to the Italian statistical agency Istat, inflation in Italy, calculated in accordance with European Union standards, slowed in June to the lowest level since April 2022 and amounted to 6.7% in annual terms compared with 8% in May. On a monthly basis, consumer prices in June remained unchanged compared to the previous month, when they rose by 0.3%. Inflation, calculated only by Italian standards, also fell this month – from 7.6% in May to 6.4%. This decrease is mainly due to the fall in energy prices from last year's highs. Italian official Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday criticized the policy of the European Central Bank, which promises to continue raising key interest rates. According to Meloni, stable inflation in the eurozone is largely due to high energy prices, and is not the result of economic overheating. «Raising interest rates is not a simple and right decision,» Meloni said during a speech in the Italian parliament. The politician urged not to ignore the fact that the constant increase in rates harms the economy more than it helps to reduce inflation. The growth in the cost of energy in Italy slowed in June to 8.4% from 20.3% in May, and food prices fell from 13.2% to 11.9%. The growth of prices for transport services also slowed down from 5.6% to 3.8%. Preliminary data on the dynamics of consumer prices in the eurozone as a whole will be published on Friday.
