Investing.com - The euro edged higher against the U.S. dollar on Friday, but gains were expected to remain limited as euro zone inflation data added to expectations for the European Central Bank to announce additional stimulus measures at its monthly policy meeting next week.
EUR/USD hit 1.2490 during European afternoon trade, the session high; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.2482, adding 0.13%.
The pair was likely to find support at 1.2400, the low of November 25 and resistance at 1.2571, the high of November 21.
Official data earlier showed that euro zone consumer price inflation ticked down to an annualized rate of 0.3% this month from 0.4% in October, in line with expectations.
Core consumer price inflation, which excludes food, energy, alcohol and tobacco, remained unchanged at an annualized 0.7% in November, in line with market estimates.
The rate has now been below 1% for 13 straight months, well under the ECB's target of near but just under 2%.
The data was seen as increasing the likelihood that the ECB will implement additional stimulus measures in an attempt to spur growth and inflation in the euro area.
A separate report showed that the euro zone's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 11.5% last month, in line with expectations.
Earlier Friday, official data showed that German retail sales rose 1.9% in October, beating expectations for a 1.7% gain. The change in retail sales in September was revised to a 2.8% decline from a previously estimated 3.2% drop.
Meanwhile, in France, data showed that consumer spending fell 0.9% in October, compared to expectations for a 0.2% rise. September's consumer spending was revised to a 0.5% slip from a previously estimated 0.8% decline.
The euro was also higher against the pound, with EUR/GBP rising 0.30% to 0.7947.
Sterling came under pressure after the Nationwide Building Society reported on Friday that U.K. house price inflation rose 0.3% in November, less than the expected 0.4% increase, after a 0.5% gain the previous month.
Year-on-year, U.K. house prices rose 8.5% this month, slightly below expectations for an increase of 8.6%, down from a 9.0% rise in October.