Inflation in France rises to 1.0% in February, driven by food, services

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - Consumer prices in France rose 1.0% year-on-year in February, accelerating from 0.3% in January, according to provisional data published Friday by statistical authority INSEE.

The increase was partly attributed to a less pronounced decline in energy prices, due to a base effect linked to a sharp fall in electricity prices in February 2025.

Energy prices remained negative year-on-year at -3.0%, but the drop was smaller than the -7.6% seen in January.

Food prices continued to accelerate, rising 2.1% annually compared with 1.9% the previous month. Fresh food prices increased 3.1% year-on-year, while other food products rose 2.0%.

Services prices climbed 1.8% annually, up from 1.7% in January, supported by seasonal rebounds in transport services. Tobacco prices rose 3.0%, while manufactured products declined 0.3%, though at a slower pace than in the previous month.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices were up 0.7% in February after falling 0.3% in January, reflecting seasonal increases in services and clothing prices following the end of winter sales.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), used for eurozone comparisons, rose 1.1% year-on-year and 0.8% month-on-month.