Central News Agency (Taipei, July 1, 2023, CNA Foreign News Service) Latest data shows that after the Iran-US war caused energy prices to soar, pushing inflation up, the Eurozone's inflation rate slowed to 2.8% in June, increasing the possibility that the European Central Bank (ECB) will keep interest rates unchanged. According to AFP, Eurostat announced today that in the Eurozone, composed of 21 countries, the year-on-year consumer price index (CPI) in June increased by 2.8%, down from 3.2% in May. The decline in fuel prices after the US and Iran reached a peace agreement is the main reason for the overall inflation rate to fall, moving closer to the European Central Bank's target of 2%. In June, Eurozone energy prices rose by 8.7% year-on-year, down from 10.8% in May. Inflation for food and services also slowed, decreasing by 0.3 percentage points each to 1.6% and 3.2% respectively; inflation for industrial products remained unchanged at 0.9%. The core inflation rate (excluding volatile energy and food prices), which the European Central Bank pays close attention to, fell back to 2.4% in June after rising to 2.6% in May. This moderate inflation data increases market expectations that the European Central Bank will keep interest rates unchanged at its meeting on the 23rd of this month. The European Central Bank raised its benchmark interest rate by one quarter-point (25 basis points) to 2.25% in June, the first rate hike since September 2023. (Translator: Hung Pei-ying) 0701115 Stand with facts, your every contribution is a force to protect press freedom. Download the CNA "First-Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news in real-time. No reproduction, public broadcast, public transmission, or use of the text, images, or videos on this website is permitted without authorization.