Berlin, Jan 5 - Inflation in the 16-member eurozone rose last month, preliminary data released Tuesday is forecast to show, as signs that the currency bloc's economy remained on a recovery course.

The European Union's statistics office, Eurostat, said annual inflation in the eurozone rose from 0.5 percent in November to 1 percent in December.

But despite the rise, consumer prices in the eurozone are still well below the European Central Bank's (ECB) 2-percent ceiling for annual inflation.

Moreover, economists are expecting the ECB to keep interest rates on hold for the months ahead with the eurozone recording only a modest recovery from the recession that engulfed the currency bloc last year. (dpa)