In March 2025, French consumer prices rose by 0.2% in a single month and by 0.8% over the full year. This increase followed a relative stabilization in prices in February. The slight increase was mainly due to higher prices for manufactured goods, particularly clothing and footwear. Manufactured goods rose by 1.1%, compared to just 0.3% in February. Clothing and footwear prices also rose by 5.7% following the end of the winter sales season.
On the other hand, service prices remained stable, having risen by 0.6% in February. Food prices also saw a slight recovery, rising by 0.3%, after falling by 0.1% the previous month. Energy prices, on the other hand, continued their decline, falling by 1.5% in March, compared to 4.6% in February. This decline was mainly attributed to lower petroleum product prices. After seasonally adjusted inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined by 0.2% during the same month.
Year-on-Year Energy Price Trend
Over the year, energy prices fell by 6.6% in March, compared to 5.8% in February. This decline was attributed to a 7.2% drop in petroleum product prices, down from 4.5% in February. Gasoline prices also fell by 7.8%, down from 5.9% the previous month. Diesel also fell by 7.2%, down from 2.8% in February. In addition, combustible liquid prices fell by 6.9%. Electricity prices, on the other hand, slowed slightly to 12.8%, down from 12.6% in February. Gas prices saw a significant jump, rising by 18.9%, up from 11.7% previously. Combustible solids prices also fell by 4.9%, down from 5.5% in February.
Changes in manufactured goods prices
In March, manufactured goods prices fell by 0.2%, after remaining flat in February. New clothing and footwear rose by 0.5%, compared to 1.6% the previous month. In contrast, sanitary goods prices fell by 1.4%, the same as in February.
Prices of “other manufactured goods” remained almost completely stable, registering a slight decrease of 0.1%. More broadly, new car prices slowed, rising by only 1.2%, down from 2.0%. Prices of several non-durable equipment items also fell by 2.1%, compared to 1.5% the previous month.
On the other hand, glass and tableware prices accelerated, rising by 1.3%. Prices of books, magazines, and paper also rose by 2.1%, compared to 2.0% in February. Prices of large appliances continued to decline, falling by 1.6%, after falling by 2.3% the previous month. Prices of toys and hobbies also fell by 0.9%, compared to a previous decline of 1.1%.
Services prices remained relatively stable.
Over the year, service prices rose by 2.3% in March, down from 2.2% in February. “Other services” rose by 3.5%, driven by a significant increase in guarantee prices of 11.6%. Conversely, prices for accommodation services slowed, rising by 5.7% compared to 6.0%. Recreational and cultural services also saw a slowdown, rising by only 0.7%. Social care services rose by 4.0%, compared to 4.2% previously. Restaurant and café services continued to rise at roughly the same pace, by 2.2%. Communications prices continued to decline, but slowed to -11.4% from -13.6%.
Transportation prices also fell by 0.4%, after rising by 1.5% in February. This decline is attributed to a 1.9% drop in rail transport prices, following a period of stability. Airfare prices also fell by 3.8%, due to the impact of the solidarity tax. However, express transport maintained its upward trend, rising by 5.7%.
Evolution of food product prices
Over the course of a year, food inflation accelerated, reaching 0.6% in March, compared to 0.3% in February. This was primarily due to a 3.8% rise in fresh produce prices. The increase included all fresh vegetables, which rose by 5.5%, up from 2.7%. Fresh fruit prices also rose by 3.4%, and fresh meat by 3.7%. Processed food products rose by only 0.2%, compared to 0.1% in February. Tax relief also contributed to a 2.3% increase in sweet pastry prices, up from 1.6% previously. Milk, cheese, and egg prices fell by 0.8%, slightly lower than February’s 0.9%. Conversely, oils and fats prices rose by 0.8%, up from 2.6% the previous month. Alcoholic food products also rose by 0.2%, up from 0.3% in February. Meat prices fell by 0.4%, while sugar, flour, and confectionery prices maintained their previous pace.
Monthly change: Stable in February; Difference of one: +0.8%
As of February 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be stable for one month, following a 0.2% increase in January. The net energy price response (-4.6% after +1.6%), driven by higher electricity prices (-12.6% after -0.1%), is partially offset by the price of services (+0.6% after +0.3%), particularly transportation services (+3.9% after -8.3%), clothing and water, and packaging of small orders (+1.1% after +0.2%), and another portion of the price returns of manufactured goods (+0.3% after -1.1%). Over the course of the month, tobacco prices are relatively stable (+0.2% after +3.8%), while all energy sources are slightly recovering (-0.1% after +0.3%). Seasonally adjusted, consumer prices rose by 0.5% in February 2025, after +0.5% in January.
Over the year, consumer prices rose by 0.8% in February 2025, after +1.7% in January. For the first time in February 2021, the annual rate was passed on by 1%.
