Inflation Rate Rises in Euro Zone

The yearly inflation rate for the 12-member euro zone climbed 2.3 percent in December, the Luxembourg-based European statistics agency Eurostat reported on Wednesday. At the same time, the agency raised the rate for November by 0.1 percentage points to 2.2 percent. The December rise was blamed on higher prices for energy, hotel rooms and restaurant meals. Germany had the lowest rate among the 12 countries that use the euro at 1.1 percent. The agency recorded the highest rate of inflation, 4.6 percent, in Ireland.