By William L. Watts
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Consumer price inflation across the euro zone rose at a 2.4% annual pace in January, the European Union statistics agency Eurostat reported Monday in a preliminary estimate. The inflation pace accelerated from 2.2% in December and pushed further above the European Central Bank's target of just below 2%. The figure was in line with forecasts. The euro extended its gain versus the dollar to trade at $1.3653, a gain of 0.3% on the day.
