The annual inflation rate stood at 3.6% in July, after 3.2% in June, statistics office INE said in a statement.

The rise in energy costs pushed up the cost of transportation, though food and non-alcoholic beverage prices fell, in particular for fruits and vegetables, it said.

The statistics office had initially estimated inflation at 3.5% in July.

Global energy markets have been jolted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas exports from the resource-rich Gulf region after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Spain's central bank had already raised its inflation forecast in June, and for the full year, it expects inflation to reach 3.6%, up from a previous forecast of 3.0%.

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