Informations Rapides · 15 September 2026 · n° 218

In August 2026, consumer prices rose by 2.4% year on year Consumer price index - final results - August 2026

In August 2026, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.7% over one month, after +0.6% in July. This further increase in prices was explained by the seasonal rebound in manufactured products prices (+1.6% after ‑2.0%), particularly those of clothing and footwear (+7.3% after ‑9.8%), following the July decrease due to summer sales. Energy prices increased again (+3.4% after +2.3%), driven by petroleum product prices (+5.6% after +2.3%). Food prices increased (+0.4% after +0.1%), primarily due to the increase in fresh product prices (+2.9% after +0.6%). Services prices were almost stable compared to July (‑0.1% after +1.6%), and tobacco prices remained stable, as in the previous month.

Seasonally adjusted, consumer prices increased from the previous month by 0.2% in August 2026, after +0.5% in July.

Year on year, consumer prices rose by 2.4% in August 2026 after +2.1% in July. The increase in inflation was primarily explained by the acceleration in energy prices (+16.7% after +12.6%). Food prices accelerated slightly (+1.1% after +1.0%) and those of services prices slowed down over one year (+1.9% after +2.2%). Tobacco prices increased at the same pace as in the previous month (+3.3%). Over one year, the decline in manufactured products eased again (-0.4% after -0.7%).

Year on year, core inflation (year-on-year change in the index) stood at +1.1% in August 2026, after +1.3% in July.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) increased by 0.7% over one month, after +0.6% in July. Year on year, it rose by 2.6% after +2.4% in July.

This month, the difference between the year-on-year changes in the HICP and the CPI was 0.27 points, after 0.25 points in July: 0.25 points of this gap were due to differences in the weightings of the two indices, and 0.02 points were due to differences in the trends between net and gross prices.

Year on year, energy prices accelerated again: +16.7% in August 2026, after +12.6% in July and +11.0% in June.

The prices of petroleum products accelerated again over one year (+28.7% after +20.7% in July and +19.7 in June), driven by accelerations in prices of diesel (+36.4% after +24.1%), petrol (+19.1% after +16.5%), and liquid fuels (+47.8% after +30.9%).

The prices of electricity prices rebounded over a year (+1.1% after ‑1.0%), while those of gas slowed down slightly in August (+14.3% after +17.7%).

Year on year, food prices accelerated slightly: +1.1% in August after +1.0% in July.

The prices of fresh products accelerated again over one year (+5.9% after +3.8% in July and +2.7% in June), notably due to the impact of heatwaves, particularly those of fresh leafy or stem vegetables (lettuce, endive, etc.; +21.3% after +8.0%), fresh fruit-bearing vegetables (tomatoes, zucchinis, etc.; +22.3% after +13.1%), and dates, figs, and tropical fruits (+4.0% after +0.8%). Conversely, fresh citrus fruit prices slowed down (+0.6% after +3.6%), as did those of “other fresh fruits” (melons, watermelons, etc.; +3.1% after +6.1%).

The year-on-year increase in food prices excluding fresh products eased slightly (+0.4% after +0.6%). The prices of meat slowed down (+2.1% after +2.3%), as did those of sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (+0.8% after +1.0%), and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.1% after +1.5%). The prices of bread and cereals fell slightly (-0.3% after stability), and those of oils and fats prices declined more markedly (-1.3% after -1.1%). The prices of milk, other dairy products, and eggs rose at the same rate as in the previous month (+0.2%), as did those of alcoholic beverages (+0.3%).

Year on year, the prices of services accelerated: +1.9% in August after +2.2% in July.

The prices of “other services” slowed down over one year (+2.1% after +2.5%), notably those of accommodation services (+0.7% after +7.3%) and, to a lesser extend, those of services for the maintenance, repair and security of the dwelling (+2.0% after +2.1%). Recreational service prices fell at a faster pace than in July (‑1.5% after ‑0.6%). Conversely, the prices of insurance accelerated (+3.7% after +2.3%), as did those of catering (+2.1% after +1.9%) and social protection (child care services, retirement homes for elderly persons and residences for disabled persons, services to maintain people in their private home; +3.1% after +2.8%).

The prices of transport slowed down over one year (+0.8% after +1.2%), reflecting trends in transport by train (+1.2% after +1.7%). The prices of transport by road fell again at a faster pace than in the previous month (‑1.5% after ‑0.7%). The prices of airfares rose at the same pace as in the previous month (+1.7%).

Communication service prices slowed down slightly but remained sharply higher year on year (+10.1% after +10.7%).

Conversely, prices of rents, water and household refuse collection accelerated slightly over one year (+2.0% after +1.9%), as did those of health services (+0.5% after +0.2%).

The decline in manufactured product prices eased (‑0.4% after ‑0.7%).

Clothing and footwear prices fell over one year at a lesser rate than in the previous month (‑1.4% after ‑2.9%).

The prices of “other manufactured products” rose by 0.1% over one year, after ‑0.1% in July. The prices of vehicles went up anew (+0.4% after stability). Those of furniture and furnishings (+1.3% after +1.1%) and newspapers, books, and stationery accelerated (+2.8% after +2.4%). Conversely, the prices of parts for personal transport fell at a slightly faster pace (‑0.3% after ‑0.2%), as did those of games, toys, and hobbies (‑2.0% after ‑1.4%). Finally, the prices of articles and products for personal care evolved at the same rate as in July (+0.9%), as did those of information and communication equipment (‑0.8%).

Over one year, health products prices fell at a slightly faster pace than in July (‑2.3% after ‑2.2%).

Year on year, in hyper and supermarkets, the prices of industrial food, cleaning and hygiene/beauty products fell slightly in August 2026 (‑0.2% after stability in July). The prices of industrial food followed the same trend (‑0.2% after stability in July). Those of cleaning and hygiene/beauty products sold in hyper and supermarkets fell at a faster pace than in the previous month (‑0.4% after ‑0.2%).

Compared to the provisional estimates published on 28 August 2026, CPI year-on-year and month-on-month changes are confirmed. Both month-on-month and year-on-year changes in HICP are revised by ‑0.1 points