ISTANBUL 

France's annual inflation rate clocked in at 5.6% in September, down from 5.9% in August, preliminary official figures showed on Friday.

The country's statistical authority Insee said the fall in inflation stemmed from a slowdown in energy and service prices.

In the final figures, set for release on Oct. 14, "prices of manufactured products should increase over one year at a rate close to the previous month and those of food should accelerate," it added.

Monthly inflation was at 0.5% in September, showing no change from August.