Brussels - Inflation returned to the euro area after a six-month absence, with Eurostat preliminary estimates out Monday pointing to a rise in consumer prices of 0.6 per cent in November. Annual inflation had dropped steadily during the recession, entering into negative territory in June and falling by as much as 0.7 per cent in July.
Last month it was down 0.1 per cent, according to the European Union's statistical office.
The November figure was slightly higher than analysts' prediction of a 0.5 per cent rise.
Eurostat plans to publish definite data for November on December 16.
The 16 European countries which share the euro are: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
