Eurozone preliminary CPI inflation for March has come in slightly lower than expected, falling to 0.6% from 1.7%.
This was the lowest level on record and below market forecasts for a fall to 0.7% year on year from March 2008.
The drop is probably partly driven by lower energy and food price inflation, according to ING economist Martin van Vliet.
In March of last year core CPI rose by 1.0% month on month, amplifying the effect of the latest fall, van Vliet said.
