Swedish consumer prices rose more than expected in December, hitting double digits and raising pressure on the central bank to keep cranking up interest rates after four hikes last year.

Consumer prices, measured with a fixed interest rate, rose 1.9 percent in December from the previous month and were up 10.2 percent from the same month last year, the statistics office (SCB) said on Friday.

Analysts in a Reuters poll had forecast headline inflation of 9.9% while the Riksbank saw annual price increases running at 9.1% in its most recent forecast in November.

Central banks around the world have reacted sharply to soaring inflation, jacking up interest rates and squeezing mortgage borrowers.

The central bank targets 2 percent CPIF inflation.

CPI inflation was 2.1 percent on the month and 12.3 percent on the year. (Reporting by Johan Ahlander)