Euro zone inflation slowed in December to 1.6 percent on the year while core indicators remained stable at low levels, the European Union’s statistics office said on Thursday confirming its preliminary estimates released earlier in January. The final figures confirm that inflation has fallen away from the European Central Bank target of a rate below, but close to 2.0 percent, complicating plans for a possible hike in interest rates this year. Eurostat said prices in the 19-nation currency bloc rose 1.6 percent in December on the year, slowing from 1.9 percent in November. On the month inflation was flat, as markets ... (full story)