Italy's annual inflation rate rose to 1.7% in March, up from 1.5% in February, according to preliminary data released by Istat on Tuesday.
    The national statistics agency said the increase by driven by the "dynamics of prices of regulated energy products (from -11.6% to -1.3%), of non-regulated energy products (from -6.2% to -2.4%) and of unprocessed food (from +3.7% to +4.4%)".
    It said its consumer price index was up by 0.5% in month-on-month terms.
    Istat said its 'shopping trolley' index of the prices of food, household goods, and personal care products rose by 2.2%, up from 2.0% in February.
    It said core inflation - excluding energy and fresh food - dropped from 2.4% to 1.9%.

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