“I believe that victory (against inflation) is ensured in France”, welcomed Friday, March 14 on France Inter the governor of the Banque de France, François Villeroy de Galhau. Inflation was less than 1 % in annual shift in February, a first for four years, at 0.8 % over one year last month against 1.7 % in January, said Friday The National Institute of Statistics (INSEE). Over a month, prices remained stable, after an increase of 0.2 % of inflation in January.
According to INSEE, the drop in inflation is mainly explained by “the strong fall in energy prices over a year (-5.8 %)”, while they were up 2.7 % in January.
This drop is explained in particular by the sharp drop in electricity prices (-12.6 % over a year) and, to a lesser extent, by falling prices for petroleum products (-4.5 %). On the other hand, the price of gas has increased sharply (+11.7 %).
Failing to drop, the price of services increased less over one year in February, the price increase of 2.5 % in January to 2.2 % last month.
Regarding the prices of manufactured products, they remained stable over one year in February, in particular thanks to the slowdown in vehicle prices ( +2 % after +2.4 %), underlines INSEE.
On the other hand, the prices of food products increase slightly, going from an inflation of 0.1 % in January to 0.3 % in February. “This increase in inflation is due to the acceleration of the prices of fresh products (+ 1.8 % after+ 0.4 %) driven by the rebound over one year of fresh vegetable prices (+ 2.7 % after -2.5 %)”, explains INSEE.