annual inflation in spain accelerated in december to the fastest pace since march 1992 driven by a surge in electricity and food prices consumer prices rose 67 on year in december following a 55 rise in november according to a first estimate released thursday by the spanish statistics office ine the reading is well above the 55 increase forecast from economists polled by the wall street journal the rise in the annual inflation rate was caused mainly by a jump in electricity prices as well as food prices ine said the core consumerprice indexwhich excludes the morevolatile categories of food and energyrose 21 on year in december in november annual core inflation rose 17