-- Italy's annual inflation rate climbed to 2.8% in April from 1.7% in March, provisional data from statistics agency Istat showed Thursday, above the consensus estimate of 2.6%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices were up 1.2%, compared with the prior and expected 0.5% gain.
The Italian harmonized inflation rate stood at 2.9% on an annual basis, against the previous reading of 1.6% and the expected 2.5%. Month over month, growth in harmonized consumer prices stayed at 1.7%, against the forecast of 1.3%.