Inflation was 0.7 percent after 0.8 percent in January
In France, inflation weakened somewhat after rising significantly at the beginning of the year. In February, the consumer prices (HICP) surveyed using the European method rose by 0.7 percent year-on-year, as the Insee statistics office announced after an initial estimate. Analysts had expected an inflation rate of 0.5 percent. In a monthly comparison, the price development stagnated.
In January the price level had risen even more. At the start of the year, the inflation rate was 0.8 percent, after stagnating in December. Insee also explained the comparatively strong rise in inflation in January with a statistical effect.
As Insee announced, the prices for fresh food rose above average in February. There was a particularly strong increase in tobacco products, while energy prices fell year-on-year.
