BRUSSELS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The eurozone annual inflation is expected to be 2.1 percent in September, slightly up from 2.0 percent in August, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU).

The increase entirely reflected stronger food and energy inflation.

Data showed that energy has the highest annual rate which increased to 9.5 percent in September from 9.2 percent in August, mainly due to higher energy inflation in Germany.

"We still think it will fall in coming months due to fading base effects in the year-over-year rate of oil prices," said Claus Vistesen, chief eurozone economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics.

According to Jessica Hinds, European Economist of Capital Economics, the energy inflation is expected to fall sharply over the coming 12 months, pulling the headline inflation rate down below 1 percent by the middle of next year.

Eurostat said the core rate fell from August's 1.0 percent to 0.9 percent.

"The further decline in core inflation in September was a little disappointing and, against a backdrop of slower economic growth, will ensure that the ECB remains very cautious in its approach to normalising policy," said Jessica Hinds. "Overall then, the ECB is unlikely to change its plan to end its net asset purchases this year."?