Source:Insee,Eurostat

14 JAN. 2011

CONSUMER PRICES stayed unchanged or +0.1% in Metropole in December but rose a steep +0.4% including the  French Overseas Departments. In one year and equally to last month, inflation stabilized at +0.7% in Metropole   (+1.8% including French Overseas Departments) but increased +2.2% in the Euro area.

In December, and month-on-month, energy and services recorded the steepest price hikes, respectively +1.9% and +0.4% pushed up by oil products +3.2% price index gain and passenger air fares +5.9% price increase. Liquid combustibles +5.7% price index rise added further inflationary pressure to the rent and related services price index, up +0.6% as rent prices steadied at +0.2%.

Manufactured products prices stayed subdued or +0.2% offset by health products  and other manufactured goods  stable prices as clothing and footwear prices rose +0.6%. On the same period, food prices stayed mostly unchanged  or +0.2% despite fresh products steep +1.7% price index increase as food prices (excluding fresh products) -0.1% price index cut moved that component price index down.

In one year, oil products prices soared +12.5% due to oil products +16.5% followed by services +1.4% price gain. The food price index rose +1.2% inflated by fruit +3.5% and vegetables +9.3% along with fish-seafood products +1.9% price increases. Out of services, liquid combustibles prices shot up +26.5% and electricity  prices +3.1%. The biggest price cuts were recorded by communications -1.7% and leisure and culture -0.9%

INFLATION RATES FRANCE & EURO AREA 2006-2010 are available in the downwload library