Eurozone's preliminary Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices rose 3.3% year-on-year in August, matching expectations and accelerating from 2.9% in the prior month. On a monthly basis, inflation grew 0.4%, up from 0.2% previously. Core HICP, which excludes food, energy, alcohol, and tobacco, increased 2.4% year-on-year, below both the consensus and the previous 2.5% reading, while month-on-month core inflation rose 0.2% after being flat in July. The euro saw a marginal positive reaction but remained sharply lower against the dollar, with EUR/USD trading 0.2% down near 1.1595.
