Informations Rapides · 30 April 2025 · n° 112

In March 2025, the industrial producer prices fell by 1.1% over a month and by 0.3% over a year Industrial Producer and Import Price Indices - March 2025

In March 2025, the overall producer prices in the French industry fell again (-1.1% after -0.2% in February and +0.8% in January). Producer prices continued to fall for products sold on the French market (-0.6% after -0.4%) and they fell back sharply for those intended for the foreign markets (-2.6% after +0.4% in February). Over a year, the French industrial producer prices fell for the twenty-first consecutive month (-0.3% after -0.2% in February and -1.2% in January).

Excluding energy, the producer prices in the French industry were virtually stable over a month (+0.1% after +0.3% in February), and were up over a year (+1.6% as in February).

In March 2025, the fall in producer prices in the French industry for the home market increased slightly over a month (-0.6% after -0.4% in February): prices of mining and quarrying products, energy and water continued to fall (-1.6% after -1.7%), and those of manufactured products fell back (-0.3% after +0.2% in February). Over a year, the producer prices in the French industry for the home market fell for the sixteenth consecutive month (-0.6% after -1.2% in February and -2.3% in January).

In March 2025, prices of mining and quarrying products, energy and water fell again (-1.6% after -1.7% in February and +0.2% in January). They were driven by the continuing fall in electricity prices (-4.4% after -4.9%): the fall in February was due to the annual revision of regulated electricity sales tariffs, while that in March was the result of the fall in prices on the wholesale markets (linked to an increase in wind and solar power generation, a high availability of nuclear power and a fall in demand due to mild temperatures). Over a year, prices of mining and quarrying products, energy and water fell for the sixteenth consecutive month (-3.6% after -5.7%), mainly due to the fall in electricity prices.

Prices of refined petroleum products fell sharply over a month (-9.3% after -2.9% in February): the fall in world oil prices continued in March and was reinforced by the appreciation of the euro against the dollar, which increased over the same period. Over a year, they fell sharply (-17.5% after -11.5% in February).

Prices of food and beverages accelerated in March (+0.9% after +0.6% in February and January): they were driven by a sharp acceleration in cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery prices (+8.5% after +0.6%), against a backdrop of past rises in cocoa prices and strong demand in the run-up to Easter. Over a year, food and beverages prices rose by 2.8% (after +2.1% in February).

Prices of “other industrial products” slowed over a month (+0.2% after +0.4% in February): the rebound in prices of pharmaceutical products (+1.5% after -0.6%) was offset by the fall in cement prices (-2.1% after -1.7%). Over a year, prices of “other industrial products” rose by 1.7% (as in February).

Prices of electronic equipment and machinery were virtually stable over a month (+0.1% after -0.2% in February). Over a year, they rose by 1.0% (after +0.8% in February).

Transport equipment prices were stable over a month (after -0.1% in February) and, over a year, they rose by 0.5% (after +0.6%).

In March 2025, the industrial producer prices for foreign markets fell back over a month (-2.6% after +0.4% in February). Prices for manufactured products fell (-0.6% after remaining stable in February), and those of mining and quarrying products, energy and water fell sharply, in line with the fall in electricity prices on wholesale markets.

Prices for refined petroleum products fell sharply in March (-8.0% after -1.6% in February). Transport equipment prices, which are particularly sensitive to the depreciation of the dollar against the euro, also fell again (-1.2% after -0.2%).

Prices for electronic equipment and machinery were virtually unchanged in March (-0.1%, as in February).

Prices for “other industrial products” were stable over a month (after +0.1% in February): the rebound in prices for plastics in primary forms (+1.6% after -0.8%) was offset by the fall in prices for pharmaceutical preparations (-2.2% after -0.3%).

Food and beverages prices were also stable over a month (after +0.2%): the acceleration in cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery prices (+3.3% after +1.8%) was offset by the fall in distilled alcoholic beverages prices (-2.5% after +0.2%).

Over a year, the industrial producer prices for the foreign markets slowed (+0.3% after +2.7% in February).

In March 2025, the import prices for industrial products fell back (-1.2% after +0.2% in February). Prices of manufactured products fell (-0.5% after +0.1% in February), and those of mining and quarrying products, energy and water fell fairly sharply (due to lower crude petroleum and electricity prices).

Prices for refined petroleum products fell sharply in March (-8.3% after -0.6%).

Prices for electronic equipment and machinery continued to fall (-0.3% as in February), driven by prices for computers and peripheral equipment (-1.0% as in February).

Prices of food and beverages slowed over a month (+0.2% after +0.4%): the rise in prices was driven by preserved meat and meat products (+2.6% after +1.3%), with sustained demand for poultry and beef.

Prices for “other industrial products” were stable over a month (after +0.3%), as were those for transport equipment (after +0.1%).

Over a year, the import prices for industrial products slowed in March 2025 (+1.0% after +1.9% in February).

The evolution of the producer price index in the French industry for the home market between January 2025 and February 2025 has been revised upwards by 0.4 points (mainly due to a revision in electricity prices): published in late March 2025 at -0.8%, it has been reviewed at -0.4%. As a result, the evolution in the index for total industry (regardless of market) in February 2025 has been revised to -0.2% (instead of -0.5%).