France annual inflation falls to 4-month low in September

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - France's annual consumer inflation rate decreased to a four-month low in September, according to official data released on Friday.

Consumer prices increased 5.6% from a year ago in September, down from a 5.9% annual rise in August, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies said.

The decline in the annual inflation rate stemmed from a slowdown in services prices – up 3.2% year-on-year in September compared to 3.9% in August – and energy prices – up 17.9% versus 22.7%.

The annual core inflation, excluding food and energy, came in at 4.5% in September, easing from 4.7% in August.

On a monthly basis, the consumer prices index fell 0.6% in September, after posting a 0.5% rise in August.

The prices of services contracted by 1.5% month-on-month in September due to more marked seasonal downturn in the prices of certain tourism-related services, the statistical agency said.

Energy prices declined for the third month in a row, down 2.6% from a month earlier in September, while food prices rose 1.1% in the same period.