International Business

EU Inflation Holds Steady: Low figures for Austria, Finland and Sweden kept prices in the European Union flat in January, the group’s statistics office said. Luxembourg-based Eurostat said inflation in the 15 countries that now make up the EU was 3.1%, the same as in December, when only 12 members made up the bloc. Without the enlargement, January’s inflation rate would have been 3.2%, it said. Finland, Sweden and Austria joined the EU on Jan. 1. Their inflation rates for the month were 1.9%, 2.5% and 2.7%, respectively.