Inflation in Greece rose to 3.4% from 3.1% in February, Eurostat's preliminary data show. On a monthly basis, inflation stood at 1.8%.

In the Eurozone, Eurostat's first estimate calls for inflation of 2.4% in March, up from 2.6% in February.

In the euro area, the highest inflation was recorded in the services sector (4%, stable compared to February), while food, alcohol and tobacco prices increased by 2.7%, compared to 3.9% in February. In non-energy industrial goods, prices rose by 1.1% after an increase of 1.6% in February and energy prices fell by 1.8%, after a decrease of 3.7% in the previous month.

The ECB closely monitors structural inflation, which decreased from 3.1% in February to 2.9%, falling short of the forecast of 3%.