Insee said France's July CPI rose 2.4% YoY, above a 2.0% consensus. Services
inflation climbed to 2.3% from 1.9% in June and energy inflation accelerated to
12.4%; Spain and Germany also posted stronger-than-expected CPI. Eurozone CPI
due later is forecast to tick up to 2.9% from 2.8% amid renewed Middle East
hostilities; the data boost increases odds of an ECB September hike — markets
and economists largely price 25 bps, though undisclosed inflation prints before
the meeting could alter that view.
