Irish consumer prices remained flat on average during 2016 after failing to rise year-on-year for the fifth successive month in December, data from the central statistics agency showed on Thursday.
Ireland's annual inflation rate hit its highest level in three years in the middle of last year, when prices rose 0.5%, but it turned negative again a month later and the index was flat both month-on-month and year-on-year in December.
The lack of inflation last year compared to a fall in the consumer price index (CPI) of 0.3% in 2015 and slight increases in the two years before that as inflation remains elusive in the European Union's fastest growing economy. (Reuters)
Source: www.businessworld.ie