Energy Prices Jump Again in Europe, Pushing Up Inflation
Listen to the story
Energy prices in Europe went up again in July. They rose more than 10% compared to last year. This is a big jump.
Because of this, inflation in the eurozone also went up. Inflation means prices for things go up over time. In July, inflation was near 3%.
This puts more pressure on the European Central Bank. People call it the ECB for short. The ECB tries to keep prices stable in Europe.
Spain had the highest inflation of all the big EU countries. In Spain, prices went up by 3.9% in July.
Higher energy prices make life more expensive. People pay more for electricity and fuel. This can make other prices go up too.
Many people in Europe are worried about the cost of living. The ECB may need to act to control prices.
Vocabulary15 words
- inflation
- when prices go up over time
- eurozone
- the group of European countries that use the euro money
- European Central Bank
- the bank that manages money for the eurozone
- ECB
- short name for the European Central Bank
- energy prices
- the cost of electricity, gas, and fuel
- cost of living
- how much money people need to live
- pressure
- a strong need to do something
- stable
- not changing much
- electricity
- power used for lights and machines
- fuel
- things burned to make energy, like gas or oil
- economy
- how money and jobs work in a country
- percent
- a part of one hundred
- control
- to manage or stop something from growing too much
- increase
- to become bigger or more
- prices
- how much things cost
Quiz
Answer key
1. More than 10% 2. Spain 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Energy prices in Europe went up again in _____. They rose more than 10% compared to last year.
Because of this, _____ in the eurozone also went up. In July, inflation was near _____%.
This puts more pressure on the European _____ Bank. The ECB tries to keep prices stable.
_____ had the highest inflation of all the big EU countries, with prices up by _____%.
Higher energy prices make _____ more expensive for everyone.