Spain's European-Union harmonised inflation rose 3.4% in the 12 months through April, up from a 3.3% increase in the period through March, preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed on Monday.

The 12-month harmonised inflation was above the 3.3% expected by analysts polled by Reuters.

Core inflation, which strips out volatile fresh food and energy prices, rose 2.9% in the 12 months through April, down from 3.3% in the previous month, INE said.

Spanish 12-month national consumer price index rose 3.3% through April, up from 3.2% in March. (Reporting by Joao Manuel Mauricio in Gdansk, editing by Inti Landauro)