By William L. Watts
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Consumer prices in the 16-nation euro zone rose 0.9% in December compared to the same month in 2008, the European Union statistics agency Eurostat reported Friday. The rate was in line with Eurostat's previous estimate and marked an acceleration from a 0.5% annual pace in November. The rate remains well below the European Central Bank's target of near but just below 2% and ECB officials have said they expect inflation pressures to remain subdued. The annual average inflation rate in 2009 was 0.3%, Eurostat said, down from 3.3% in 2008.
