Source:Insee

13 APRIL 2011

CONSUMER PRICES inched up +0.3% in March in Metropole and increased +0.7% in one year but including the French Overseas Department (DOM TOM) prices gained a steep +0.8% and jumped +2% on the same period.

In March and month-on-month food prices grew +0.9% due to fresh products +2.9% spike and excluding fresh products roe +0.6%.  Manufactured products prices climbed +1.3% as clothing and footwear prices shot up +8%, the index highest increase. Health products prices stayed stable and other manufactured products prices rose +0.2%.

As in previous months, energy prices rose +2.4% due to oil products prices +4% as Brent crude oil prices grew +7.8% expressed in Euro on the same period. The services price index edged up +0.2%.

In one year, the index steepest increases were recorded by energy prices +15.3% impacted upwards by oil products +19.6% rise as Brent prices had skyrocketed +47% to Euro 81.7 and in currency to USD 144.5. Services ranked second, up 1.7% due to rent-water and garbage removal +1.6% along with health services +1.2% other services +2.3% while transport and communication -0.5% price index cut offset inflationary trends.

Food prices rose +0.8% as fruit prices soared +9.9% while vegetable prices fell -7%. Manufactured products prices decreased -0.4% mechanically pushed down by household equipment -2.4% price index decline, and clothing -2%.