Belgium inflation jumps to 4.69%, highest since May 2023, on energy surge

Belgian annual inflation accelerated to 4.69% in September from 3.97% in August, driven by a 44.1% year-on-year surge in diesel prices. The sharp energy-driven spike signals renewed inflationary pressure in the eurozone core, potentially complicating ECB policy normalization. The data point to a regional trend of energy-led inflation resurgence, though the extent of pass-through to core inflation remains uncertain.