Consumer prices in the eurozone rose 2.1% year over year in September, in line with a flash estimate, following a 2.0% annual increase in August, Eurostat said.

Core inflation, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, came in at 0.9% in September, unchanged from the revised reading in the prior month.

Energy inflation accelerated to 9.5% in September from 9.2% in August, while food, alcohol and tobacco prices rose 2.6% following a 2.4% rise a month ago. Services inflation was steady at 1.3%.

On a monthly basis, inflation in the single-currency area came in at 0.5%, compared with 0.2% in August.

The European Central Bank has set an inflation target of below, but close to, 2% over the medium term.