BRUSSELS Belgium -- Higher prices for fuel, heating, dairy products and bread pushed inflation in the euro currency zone to 3.3 percent in February, well above the European Central Bank's target, the European Union said Friday.
The EU statistics office Eurostat revised upward a first estimate of 3.2 percent for the month, the same figure for January.
Soaring inflation puts pressure on the central bank and finance ministers of the 15 nations that use the euro to curb racing costs for basic goods.
Worried about tight credit conditions, the ECB has so far held off raising interest rates that would help cool inflation — now well above its recommended guideline of just under 2 percent. Instead it has called on others to avoid a price spiral, telling unions and governments to avoid big pay increases.
Price increases risk hurting the economy because they discourage shoppers from making bigger purchases over worries about shelling out more for groceries and gasoline. Consumer confidence — one of the main drivers of economic growth — froze last month.
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Inflation in the EU's largest economy, Germany, was 2.9 percent. The Netherlands — at 2 percent — was the only country with a lower figure. Inflation in France was 3.2 percent.
Some of the smaller euro nations had higher rates. Slovenia tops the scale at 6.4 percent, with Greece at 4.5 percent and Spain — hit by a slowing housing market — was at 4.4 percent.
Fast-growing eastern European states saw huge surges, a trend that will make it difficult for them to join the euro soon. Latvia's inflation rate was a massive 16.5 percent, Bulgaria was 12.2 percent and Estonia 11.5 percent.
Eurostat had some comfort for shoppers, saying prices for telecoms, cars and clothes have fallen from a year ago.
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