Consumer prices in the eurozone fell sharply in February to minus 0.2%, putting more pressure on the European Central Bank.
The slide into deflation is a sharp reversal from the revised 0.3% increase recorded in January.
It is the first fall in inflation since September when it shrank by 0.1%, according to Eurostat.
Energy drove the decline, with prices down 8% in February compared to a 5.4% slide in January.
The
dismal figures have dashed hopes that ECB efforts to boost prices were
working. That raises the chance of the bank announcing further stimulus
measures next month.
