France: Inflation rises in February from the prior month
Latest reading: Harmonized consumer prices rose 1.1% on a year-on-year basis in February, following a 0.4% increase in the prior month.
Relative to the prior month’s data, there were higher price pressures for food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.1% in annual terms vs +2.0% in January), transportation (0.0% vs -0.8% in January) and housing and utilities (+0.4% vs -1.5% in January). In contrast, price pressures reduced for restaurants and hotels in February (+2.3% vs +2.4% in January). Finally, the variation in recreation prices was the same as in the prior month (+0.7% in February and January).
Meanwhile, consumer prices increased 0.9% on a year-on-year basis in February, following a 0.3% increase in the prior month.
Lastly, harmonized consumer prices rose 0.71% in February on a month-on-month basis, following a 0.41% decline in the prior month.