Inflation in the eurozone notched a record high in the year through January, the European Union’s statistical agency reported, delivering an upside surprise to forecasters who predicted a significant easing of price pressures. Prices rose by 5.1 percent in the 12 months through January in the 16 European nations that share the euro currency, according to Eurostat (pdf). That’s the highest reading in the history of the data series and a far higher number than the 4.4 percent predicted by economists. “With shrinking base effects from the oil price and the German value-added tax (VAT)-hike from last January dropping out of the numbers, most were expecting a larger decline in headline inflation,” analysts at ING said in a note. But these inflation-reducing impacts were more than offset by surging energy costs, which rose by an annual 28.6 percent and were by far the biggest contributor to the headline inflation number. Alcohol, …