Annual inflation in the euro zone rose in March, according to data and preliminary German data points to a further rise in April. Ireland remains at the upper end of Euro zone inflation, and with a rate of 2 per cent is just within the European Central Bank's target inflation range of zero to 2 per cent.

Eurostat said consumer prices in the 11-nation euro zone rose 1 per cent year-on-year, up from a comparable 0.8 per cent rate in February. It was the first rise in the annual rate of inflation since April 1998.