Inflation in France and Spain plunged below 2% — fueling predictions by investors and economists that the European Central Bank will speed up the pace of interest-rate cuts.
Data Friday showed consumer prices in France rose 1.5% from a year ago in September — sinking below 2% for the first time in more than three years mainly due to falls in energy costs. Spain saw a similar trend, with inflation easing to 1.7% on fuel, power and food.
