Europe's inflation eases to 6.9% as energy falls but food up

Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro slowed to 6.9% in March. Food costs are still on the rise, but energy prices fell, making a sharp turnaround after months of punishing increases. Data released Friday by the European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, shows that consumer prices in the euro zone dropped from the 8.5% recorded in February. The inflation has dropped to its lowest in a year since since peaking at 10.6% in October. Prices for food, alcohol and tobacco rose by a painful 15.4%, faster than the previous month’s 15%. Energy prices, however, fell 0.9% in an abrupt change of direction after rising at double-digit rates over the past year amid Russia's war in Ukraine.