One year ahead, inflation expectations are at 4.0 percent, compared with 2.5 percent in February. Analysts had, on average, expected an increase to 2.8 percent in the March survey, according to Bloomberg.
Three years ahead, inflation expectations have increased to 3.0 percent, from 2.5 percent. This compares with an average forecast among analysts of 2.6 percent.
The ECB's inflation target is 2 percent.
The unexpectedly high figures for inflation expectations increase the likelihood of monetary policy tightening, with interest rate hikes in the eurozone, and come ahead of Thursday's interest rate announcement from the ECB.
