German inflation slips in February

FRANKFURT, Mar 15 (AFP): The rate of inflation in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, inched lower in February, official final data showed on Friday.

The cost of living rose by 1.2 per cent on a 12-month basis in February, compared with 1.3 per cent in January, the federal statistics office Destatis said in a statement.

Using the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), the European Central Bank's inflation yardstick, inflation in Germany stood at 1.0 per cent in February, down from 1.2 per cent in January.

The ECB defines price stability as increases in the harmonised index of close to but just below 2.0 per cent.

The final data confirm a preliminary estimate published on February 27.