Informations Rapides ·
15 April 2021 · n° 097
In March 2021, consumer prices rose by 0.6% over one month and by 1.1% year on year Consumer price index - final results - March 2021
The health crisis due to the Covid-19 impacted the quality of the data in March: price collection on the field has been adjourned since the 20 March in some metropolitan departments; moreover, certain products were unavailable for sale.
Additional information is available in “For further information”.
- Monthly change: +0.6% in March; Year-on-year change: +1.1%
- Increase in core inflation year on year
- Acceleration in service prices year on year
- Sharp rebound in energy prices year on year
- Slight increase in food inflation year on year
- Less decrease in manufactured product prices year on year
- Revisions
- For further information
Monthly change: +0.6% in March; Year-on-year change: +1.1%
In March 2021, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.6% over one month, after being stable in February. The manufactured good prices rebounded sharply (+1.6% after –0.9%) due to the end of the winter sales. The food prices were stable after a decrease by 0.2% in the last month. The service prices (+0.1% after +0.2%) and those of energy (+2.2% after +2.5%) slowed down slightly.
Seasonally adjusted, consumer prices increased by 0.1%, after –0.1% in February.
Year on year, consumer prices rose by 1.1%, after +0.6% in February. The service prices accelerated (+1.1% after +0.8%) and those of energy rebounded considerably (+4.7% after –1.6%). The food prices rose slightly (+0.9% after +0.8%). The decrease in manufactured good prices softened in March (–0.2% after –0.4%). The tobacco prices slowed down (+5.8% after +12.8%).
Increase in core inflation year on year
Year on year, core inflation grew, in March, up to +0.8% after +0.6% in February. The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) rose by 0.7% over one month after being stable in the previous month; year on year, it increased by 1.4%, after +0.8% in February.
tableauConsumer Price Index (CPI), core inflation (ISJ) and Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) year-on-year changes
| CPI | ISJ | HICP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-01 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.8 |
| 2014-02 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.1 |
| 2014-03 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 2014-04 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 2014-05 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| 2014-06 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| 2014-07 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| 2014-08 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 2014-09 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| 2014-10 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 2014-11 | 0.3 | -0.2 | 0.4 |
| 2014-12 | 0.1 | -0.1 | 0.1 |
| 2015-01 | -0.4 | 0.1 | -0.4 |
| 2015-02 | -0.3 | 0.2 | -0.3 |
| 2015-03 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| 2015-04 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| 2015-05 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| 2015-06 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| 2015-07 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 2015-08 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| 2015-09 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 |
| 2015-10 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| 2015-11 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 |
| 2015-12 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 |
| 2016-01 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 |
| 2016-02 | -0.2 | 0.7 | -0.1 |
| 2016-03 | -0.1 | 0.7 | -0.1 |
| 2016-04 | -0.2 | 0.6 | -0.1 |
| 2016-05 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| 2016-06 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 2016-07 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| 2016-08 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 2016-09 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| 2016-10 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 2016-11 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 2016-12 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
| 2017-01 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.6 |
| 2017-02 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| 2017-03 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| 2017-04 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.4 |
| 2017-05 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| 2017-06 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
| 2017-07 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 2017-08 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 2017-09 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 |
| 2017-10 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| 2017-11 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| 2017-12 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| 2018-01 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| 2018-02 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| 2018-03 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.7 |
| 2018-04 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 |
| 2018-05 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| 2018-06 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 2.3 |
| 2018-07 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2.6 |
| 2018-08 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.6 |
| 2018-09 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 2.5 |
| 2018-10 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.5 |
| 2018-11 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 |
| 2018-12 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.9 |
| 2019-01 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.4 |
| 2019-02 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.6 |
| 2019-03 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 |
| 2019-04 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.5 |
| 2019-05 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.1 |
| 2019-06 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| 2019-07 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| 2019-08 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| 2019-09 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| 2019-10 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| 2019-11 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| 2019-12 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.6 |
| 2020-01 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| 2020-02 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| 2020-03 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 2020-04 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| 2020-05 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| 2020-06 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| 2020-07 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| 2020-08 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 2020-09 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| 2020-10 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| 2020-11 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| 2020-12 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| 2021-01 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| 2021-02 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 2021-03 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 |
graphiqueConsumer Price Index (CPI), core inflation (ISJ) and Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) year-on-year changes
- Source: INSEE.
Acceleration in service prices year on year
Year on year, service prices increased by 1.1% in March, after +0.8% in February. The transport service prices rebounded (+1.8% after −0.7%) in the wake of airfares (+4.2% after −4.5%). The prices of « other services » (+1.0% after +0.9%) and those of housing-related services (+0.9% after +0.8%) rose slightly. The prices of communication services increased at the same rate as in the last month (+1.3%) and those of health services were stable as in February.
Sharp rebound in energy prices year on year
Year on year, the energy prices rebounded sharply in March (+4.7% after −1.6%). The prices of petroleum product increased strongly (+5.6% after −4.6%) in link with diesel prices (+5.3% after −4.9%) and petrol prices (+7.3% after −3.2%). The natural and town gas prices accelerated in March (+8.7% after +0.7%) and those of electricity increased at the same rate as in the previous month (+3.0%).
tableauDetailed figures for various groups
| Items | Weight | Index | Percentage change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | March 2021 | m-on-m change (2) | y-on-y change (3) | |
| a) All households | ||||
| Overall | 10000 | 105.75 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Overall SA(1) | 10000 | 105.67 | 0.1 | 1.1 |
| Food | 1785 | 108.24 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| Fresh food | 261 | 125.18 | -0.2 | 4.4 |
| Other food | 1524 | 105.57 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Tobacco | 243 | 155.92 | 0.0 | 5.8 |
| Manufactured products | 2501 | 98.19 | 1.6 | -0.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | 354 | 99.78 | 9.7 | -2.7 |
| Medical products | 438 | 87.56 | -0.4 | -1.0 |
| Other manufactured products | 1709 | 100.47 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Energy | 746 | 115.73 | 2.2 | 4.7 |
| Petroleum products | 343 | 116.51 | 3.4 | 5.6 |
| Services | 4725 | 105.79 | 0.1 | 1.1 |
| Actual rentals and services for dwellings | 853 | 102.81 | 0.1 | 0.9 |
| Health services | 647 | 102.75 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Transport | 172 | 98.57 | -0.9 | 1.8 |
| Communication | 243 | 99.03 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
| Other services | 2810 | 108.27 | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| Total except rents and tobacco | 9062 | 105.09 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| Total except tobacco | 9757 | 104.89 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| b) Urban working-class households or households of employees | ||||
| All products excluding tobacco | 9632 | 104.59 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| c) Households that belong to the lowest equivalized disposable income quintile - France | ||||
| All products excluding tobacco | 9624 | 104.39 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
- (1) seasonally adjusted
- (2) : [m/(m-1)]
- (3) : [m/(m-12)]
- Geographical coverage: France (Mayotte excluded)
- Source : INSEE – Consumer Price Indices
Slight increase in food inflation year on year
In March, food prices increased by 0.9% after +0.8% in February. The prices of fresh produces accelerated (+4.4% after +3.7%) in the wake of those of fresh vegetables (+6.3% after +2.4%). The prices of fresh fruits slowed down (+6.7% after +8.1%) and the decline in fresh fish prices accentuated (−3.8% after −0.9%). Excluding fresh produces, food prices increased by 0.4%, after +0.3% in the previous month. The prices of bread and cereals (+0.5% after +0.4%) and those of milk, cheese and eggs (+0.2% after being stable in February) accelerated slightly. The prices of meat (+0.6% after +0.9%) slowed down and those of alcoholic beverages increased at the same rate as in February (+0.8%).
Less decrease in manufactured product prices year on year
Year on year, manufactured product prices fell back by 0.2%, after −0.4% in February due in part to the less decrease in clothing and footwear prices (−2.7% after −3.0%). The prices of « other manufactured goods » increased (+0.6% after +0.2%) in the wake of those of furniture and furnishings (+3.2% after +1.9%), those of major household appliances (+1.1% after −0.1%), those of newspapers and periodicals (+4.2% after +3.8%) and those of jewellery, clocks and watches (+5.1% after +4.8%). The vehicles prices rebounded (+0.3% after −0.3%) due to the less decrease in new vehicles prices (−0.1% after −1.3%). Finally, the prices of health products fell more than in the previous month (−1.0% after −0.7%).
tableauDetailed figures for Core inflation and HICP
| Items | Weight | Index | Percentage change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | March 2021 | m-on-m change (1) | y-on-y change (2) | |
| Core inflation - All items | 6008 | 103.90 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Food excluding fresh products. meat. milk and exotic products | 841 | 103.94 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| Manufactured products | 2011 | 99.55 | -0.2 | -0.1 |
| Services including actual rentals and services for dwellings | 3156 | 106.82 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| HICP - All items | 10000 | 106.80 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
- (1) : [m/(m-1)]
- (2) : [m/(m-12)]
- Source: INSEE - Consumer Price Indices
Revisions
Compared with the provisional estimates published on March 31, 2021, the month-on-month and year-on-year changes in the CPI and HICP have been confirmed.
For further information
The price collection carried out by collectors on the field in 16 metropolitan departments has been adjourned since the 20 March. Despite the introduction of alternative collection methods (price collection online, telephone collection, scanner data), the quality of the March indices was affected. The missing prices due to a lack of collection or an impossibility to purchase the products were imputed in compliance with Eurostat guidelines. In March, this imputation rate due to Covid-19 is about 8% as in February.
Next publication of final results: 12 May 2021 at 8:45
Documentation
CPI : methodological changes for 2021 (pdf,279 Ko)
Abbreviated Methodology (pdf,131 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
The price collection carried out by collectors on the field in 16 metropolitan departments has been adjourned since the 20 March. Despite the introduction of alternative collection methods (price collection online, telephone collection, scanner data), the quality of the March indices was affected. The missing prices due to a lack of collection or an impossibility to purchase the products were imputed in compliance with Eurostat guidelines. In March, this imputation rate due to Covid-19 is about 8% as in February.
Next publication of final results: 12 May 2021 at 8:45