Updated

The eurozone's annual inflation rate was 0 percent in October, a weak reading that could help push the European Central Bank to expand its stimulus program.

Official statistics showed Friday that the inflation rate rose from minus 0.1 the month before. Falling energy prices were a major factor in keeping inflation low.

Weak inflation readings could push the European Central Bank to extend its monthly purchases of bonds using newly printed money. The bond purchases are slated to run at least through September 2016, but the bank has indicated it could decide to expand that program or deploy a different form of stimulus at its December meeting.

Eurozone unemployment fell to 10.8 percent in September from 10.9 percent the month before.