OSLO, May 10 (Reuters) - Norway's annual core inflation rate eased in April, but the move was smaller than expected, Statistics Norway data showed on Friday.
Core inflation, which strips out changing energy prices and taxes, stood at 4.4% year on year, down from 4.5% in March but exceeding the 4.3% average forecast of analysts polled by Reuters.
The Norwegian central bank's own projection for April core inflation stood at 4.5%.
Norges Bank last week kept interest rates
on hold
at a 16-year high and said a tight monetary policy stance may be needed for somewhat longer than planned earlier in order to curb prices.
The central bank had previously said it could start cutting rates
in September
. It will release new projections in June. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Anna Ringstrom)
