PARIS, June 30 (Xinhua) -- France's consumer price index (CPI) is expected to ease to 1.8 percent year on year in June, down from 2.4 percent in May, according to a preliminary estimate released by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) on Tuesday.
In the estimate, INSEE said the slowdown in inflation was mainly driven by a sharp deceleration in energy prices, particularly petroleum products, although energy prices were still expected to remain 11.2 percent higher than a year earlier after rising 16.6 percent in May.
The institute said services and food prices were expected to slow year on year, while the decline in manufactured goods prices was projected to deepen.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices are expected to decrease by 0.2 percent in June, after a 0.1-percent increase in May. According to INSEE, the decline would mainly reflect a sharp drop in energy prices, driven by lower petroleum product prices.
Food and manufactured goods prices are also expected to decrease from the previous month, while service prices are projected to increase in line with seasonal patterns.
The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, used for comparisons across the eurozone, is expected to rise by 2.0 percent year on year in June, down from 2.8 percent in May. On a monthly basis, the index is projected to decrease by 0.3 percent, after a 0.1 percent increase in May. ■
