A picture shows the skyline of Madrid, Spain, June 7, 2016. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

(Reuters) -Spain's European Union-harmonised 12-month inflation rate fell to 3.1% in November, from 3.2% in the period through October, preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed on Friday.

The 12-month EU-harmonised inflation was above the 2.9% expected by analysts polled by Reuters.

Core inflation, which strips out volatile fresh food and energy prices, was 2.6% year-on-year, the INE data showed.

Spain's 12-month national inflation fell to 3.0%, down from 3.1% in October. Analysts polled by Reuters expected a 2.9% rate.

(Reporting by Mireia Merino; Editing by Emma Pinedo)