Price Resets and Idiosyncratic Factors To Shape January Report
The Eurozone January flash inflation round is split across two weeks. Germany and Spain are scheduled to release data on Friday January 30, with France due Tuesday February 3 and Italy, the Netherlands, and the Eurozone aggregate following on Wednesday February 4. The release will be an important input ahead of the ECB's February 5 decision. While the bar to a near-term rate change in either direction remains high, the data will inform assessments of the balance of risks for 2026.
Headline inflation is expected to decelerate to 1.7% Y/Y (vs 1.9% prior). Across categories, analysts expect energy HICP to ease materially to around -4.5% Y/Y (from -1.9% in December). This will primarily be driven by base effects following January 2025's strong 3.0% M/M print, but some idiosyncratic factors are also at play.
Core inflation is seen roughly stable to marginally lower at 2.2% Y/Y, with a small expected uptick in core goods not enough to offset a deceleration in services. Food, alcohol and tobacco is expected to see little changes around 2.5% Y/Y with no major seasonal effects beyond normal January patterns.
There is more uncertainty than usual surrounding the January release due to several idiosyncratic factors.