The trade surplus rose to EUR 4.34 billion in May from EUR 3.6 billion in April. The trade balance posted surplus over the past four straight months.

Exports rebounded 13.1% in May after easing 2.8% in April. Likewise, imports surged 17.5%, reversing April's 0.2% fall.

The trade with EU countries resulted in a surplus of EUR 1.69 billion compared to April's EUR 1.05 billion surplus. Exports to EU nations advanced 12.6% and imports from EU grew 14.2%.

The non-EU trade surplus rose to EUR 2.65 billion from EUR 2.55 billion in April.

Italy's consumer price inflation moderated as initially estimated in June, latest figures from the statistical office Istat showed Friday.

The consumer price index rose 1.2% year-over-year in June, slower than the 1.4% increase in May. That was in line with the flash data published on June 28.

Excluding energy and unprocessed food, core inflation accelerated to 0.9% in June from 0.7% in May.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down 0.1% in June, confirming the flash estimate.

The EU measure of inflation, based on the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices, increased at a slower pace of 1.2% annually in June, following a 1.6% gain in May.

Month-on-month, the HICP dropped 0.2% in June. These figures also confirmed flash data. ■