PARIS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- France's consumer price index surged 3.1 percent year on year in September 2026, accelerating from 2.4 percent in August, according to data released by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies on Thursday.
The annual inflation rate was revised up by 0.1 percentage point from the provisional estimate published on Sept. 30. According to French news channel BFM TV, the CPI reached its highest level since January 2024.
The acceleration was mainly driven by faster increases in energy prices, which surged 21.3 percent year on year in September, up from 16.7 percent in August. Service prices also accelerated, rising 2.4 percent from 1.9 percent in August, while food prices increased 1.4 percent, up from 1.1 percent.
The decline in manufactured goods prices narrowed to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent in August. Tobacco prices rose 3.3 percent year on year, unchanged from the previous month.
On a monthly basis, the CPI fell 0.3 percent in September, following a 0.7 percent increase in August. Seasonal drops in service prices drove the decline, which fell 1.4 percent after a 0.1 percent decline in August.
Energy prices rose for the third consecutive month, increasing 3.9 percent month on month in September, compared with 3.4 percent in August and 2.3 percent in July. Manufactured goods prices rose 0.5 percent, slowing from 1.6 percent in August, while food prices increased 0.1 percent, down from 0.4 percent. Tobacco prices remained stable for the second consecutive month.
Core inflation stood at 1.5 percent year on year in September, up from 1.1 percent in August, the statistics organization said. ■