Inflation in the eurozone reached a record high of 8.9% this month, closing the gap with the UK’s 9.4% rate.
Dearer energy was blamed for the lion’s share of the increase from 8.6% in June, as the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to hammer European economies.
The intensifying cost of living crisis across the continent, shown in a flash estimate, came as the eurozone economy grew at a much faster pace than expected in the past three months.
Beating forecasts of a 0.2% increase in the second quarter, the 19-member currency bloc achieved GDP growth of 0.7% led by France, Italy and Spain.
However, analysts said the recent recovery was likely to evaporate as higher prices, reduced flows of Russian gas and supply chain problems caused a mild recession in the second half of the year, in the wake of a downturn already affecting the US.
France, Italy and Spain, which are credited with partially controlling domestic energy costs to minimise the impact of the cost of living squeeze, boasted the highest growth. They also benefited from a return of tourism and the reopening of businesses after pandemic lockdowns.
France rebounded from its 0.2% contraction in the first quarter to growth of 0.6% in the latest period, while Italy grew by 1% and Spain by 1.1%. In Germany, where manufacturing has been hit by surging energy prices and faltering Chinese demand, growth stalled at 0.1%.
Azad Zangana, a senior European economist at Schroders, said the disappointment in Germany was understandable, though “it is worth noting that German GDP growth for the first quarter was revised up from 0.2% to 0.8%, with the underperformance compared to the previous data consequently being not as bad as it appears.”
Bert Colijn, a senior eurozone economist at ING, said record inflation could spur the European Central Bank (ECB) into another large interest rate rise in September.
“Food and core inflation continue to trend higher while the gas crisis is keeping energy inflation elevated. Supply, rather than demand, remains the main driving force behind rising inflation,” Colijn added.
He said the Frankfurt-based central bank could add to the 0.5 percentage point rise earlier this month with a similar hike when it meets in again in September.
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Hussain Mehdi, the macro and investment strategist at HSBC Asset Management, said: “Another upside inflation surprise will make uncomfortable reading in Frankfurt and exacerbates the household income squeeze.
“Underlying price pressures are emanating from a strong labour market, while further gas supply disruptions pose significant upside risks going forward,” he said.
“This will keep the ECB on a hawkish trajectory this year even in the face of likely recession.”
