France inflation rises to 1.7% in March

ISTANBUL

Consumer prices in France rose 1.7% year-on-year in March 2026, up from 0.9% in February, the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) said Tuesday.

The increase was largely driven by energy costs, which jumped 7.3% year-on-year after falling 2.9% in February, particularly for petroleum products including gasoline, diesel, and liquid fuels, Insee said.

Service prices and tobacco costs rose slightly, while prices for manufactured goods fell more quickly than in February and food price growth slowed.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.9% in March, up from 0.6% in February, mainly due to higher energy costs. Food and tobacco prices rose slightly, while manufactured goods and service prices grew at a slower pace than the previous month.

Household spending on goods fell 1.4% in February compared with January. On an annual basis, spending declined 1.5% and dropped 0.6% in the first quarter compared with the previous three months.

The harmonized consumer price index, used for EU comparisons, rose 1.9% year-on-year in March, after a 1.1% increase in February. On a monthly basis, it rose 1.1%, following a 0.7% increase the previous month, Insee said.