Italy EU-harmonised CPI slows to 3.1% y/y in June, slightly below forecast

ROME, June 30 (Reuters) - Italian EU-harmonised consumer prices (HICP) rose 0.1% in June from the month before, with the annual inflation rate slowing to 3.1% from May's 3.2%, preliminary data showed on Tuesday, amid high energy costs due to turmoil in the Middle East.

The reading was slightly below a median forecast in a Reuters survey of 15 analysts which pointed to an increase of 0.2% month-on-month and a year-on-year rise of 3.2%.

Official statistics agency ISTAT also reported that the main domestic price index (NIC) was flat month-on-month in June and up 3.0% annually, following a 3.2% annual rate in May.

Core inflation (net of fresh food and energy) was running at 1.6% year-on-year on the HICP index in June, slowing from 1.8% in May.

(Reporting by Valentina Consiglio and Gavin Jones, graphic by Stefano Bernabei)