Eurozone consumer prices rose at their fastest pace since 2008 in September as energy costs skyrocketed, official data showed on Friday.

Eurostat, the EU’s official statistics agency, said eurozone inflation reached 3.4 per cent on an annualised basis, with energy prices increasing by 17.4 per cent.

The rise in costs was far above the 2.0 per cent target at the European Central Bank and will raise pressure on EU governments to take measures to ease the energy cost burden.

The rise in costs was far above the 2% target at the ECB and will raise pressure on EU governments to take measures to ease the energy cost burden

ECB president Christine Lagarde insists that high inflation remains a temporary phenomenon linked to the coronavirus pandemic that has upset supply chains and disrupted the energy market. But Eurostat said core inflation, which strips out energy and other items, stood at 1.9 per cent, up from 1.6 per cent a month earlier.

Energy prices are becoming a political flashpoint in Europe, with countries considering a wide range of emergency plans to lower the prices for consumers.

Brussels is preparing a series of short-term measures such as cutting value-added tax and excises on energy, in hopes of preserving commitments for more renewable energy sources.