Annual inflation picked up pace a little in the eurozone last month, cementing expectations that the European Central Bank will leave interest rates unchanged for a second-straight meeting next week.

Consumer prices rose by 2.1% on year in August across the 20 nations that use the euro, European Union figures showed Tuesday. That marks an increase from the 2.0% rate of annual inflation booked in July. Core inflation, which strips out the more volatile shifts in the prices of energy and food, was unchanged at 2.3% on year last month.