Investing.com - Consumer price inflation in the euro zone slowed more-than-expected in December, official preliminary data showed on Tuesday. In a report, Eurostat said consumer price inflation increased by a seasonally adjusted 0.8% last month, down from 0.9% in November. Economists had expected an unchanged reading. The rate stands below the European Central Bank's target of near but just below 2%. Core CPI, which excludes food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco costs rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in December, slowing from 0.9% in November and below forecasts for an increase of 0.8%. Following the release of the data, the euro was little changed against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD shedding 0.01% to trade at 1.3627. Meanwhile, European stock markets remained moderately higher in subdued trade. The EURO STOXX 50 rose 0.5%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.3%, Germany's DAX tacked on 0.3%, while London’s FTSE 100 inched up 0.3%.

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