Consumer prices rose by 0.9% in France in February

Consumer prices rose by 0.9% in France in February, compared to the same month the previous year, according to Insee, the national statistics body.

This compares to a 0.3% year-on-year increase in January, the data showed.

Monthly increase

On a month-on-month basis, consumer prices were 0.6% higher in February than they were in January, following a 0.3% decline the previous month.

The monthly rise in February was largely driven by a seasonal rebound in manufactured products (+1.4%) due to the end of a promotional period for clothing and footwear (+5.9%), as well as an increase in services prices (+0.5%), primarily in transport (+4.1%). Energy prices showed a modest rise of 0.3%, while food prices remained stable. Tobacco prices increased slightly (+0.4%).

Year-on-year performance

On a year-on-year basis, a slower decline in energy prices was the main driver of the February increase. Energy fell ‑2.9%, less sharply than the ‑7.6% in January, due to a base effect in electricity prices, which had plummeted in February 2025. Petroleum products also declined more slowly (‑2.2%), though gas prices fell at a faster pace (‑3.3%).

Manufactured products saw a slight annual decrease (‑0.2%) due to timing differences in sales periods compared with last year. Clothing and footwear rose by 1.5% year on year, while other manufactured goods declined slightly (‑0.1%). Prices for furniture, personal transport, and jewelry increased, whereas health products, non-durable household goods, and newspapers declined.

Food prices continued to rise, up 2.0% year on year, driven by fresh produce (+1.8%), fruits and vegetables (+19.8%), fresh fish (+4.8%), and tropical fruits (+2.1%). Meat (+3.4%), dairy (+1.3%), and sugar, chocolate, and confectionery (+4.3%) also contributed to higher food inflation.

Meanwhile, services prices slowed to +1.6% year on year, the fourth consecutive month of deceleration. Rents, water, and household waste collection rose more slowly (+1.7%), as did insurance, accommodation, and social protection services. Transport prices fell slightly less (‑0.4%), with train fares up (+8.7%) but airfares declining faster (‑6.5%).

In the large-scale retail sector, prices for industrial food, cleaning, and hygiene/beauty products remained broadly stable, rising 1.1% year on year.

Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, also increased to 0.9% year on year, up from 0.7% in January. The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) rose 1.1% annually. Read more here.