13 April 2010

2010- n° 100

The consumer price index increased by 0.5% in March 2010 Consumer price index - final results - March 2010

In March 2010, the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.5% (+1.6% year-on-year), after rising by 0.6% in February.

The price index without tobacco increased also by 0.5% (+1.5% year-on-year).

Adjusted for seasonal variations, CPI went up by +0.2% (+1.6% year-on-year).

The rise of the CPI in March resulted, on one hand from the increase in the prices of manufactured products, linked mainly to the end of winter sales and, on the other hand, from the steep growth in the prices of oil products. It is also due to the continuation of the increase in the prices of fresh vegetables.

In March, the prices of manufactured products rose (+0.8%; -0.1% year-on-year; +1.2% in March 2009), due to the end of the winter sales, which were finished on the 9th of February in most of the French departments.

In March 2010, the prices of energy products went up again (+2.1%; +9.9% year-on-year): +3.4% on the prices of fuel (+18.3% year-on-year) and +4.7% on those of liquid-fuel (+32.0% year-on-year).

The prices of food products went up in March 2010 (+0.4%; +0.6% year-on-year). After a moderate increase in February, prices of fresh products grew strongly in March (+3.7%; +5.5% year-on-year).

For fresh vegetables, the difficult weather conditions for production and conveying of goods are again the cause of the increase in the prices (+6.5%; +12.6% year-on-year).

Prices of services slightly progressed in March 2010 (+0.1%; +1.7% year-on-year), decreases almost made up for increases.

Core-inflation (ISJ) decreased by 0.1% in March 2010 (+1.7% year-on-year).

The harmonised consumer price index (IPCH) went up by 0.5% (+1.7% year-on-year).