The consumer price index increased by 2.8% over one year in the month of December, the same rate as in November, according to a preliminary estimate released this Tuesday by INSEE. The rise is slowing in energy but accelerating notably in food.
Over one year, inflation calculated from the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP), which allows for price level comparisons across Europe, is significantly higher: it stands at 3.4%, as it did in November, according to INSEE.
As a result, according to INSEE, energy prices in December show an annual increase of 18.6%, after a 21.6% rise the previous month. But this relative slowdown is offset by an acceleration in other sectors. In the area of food, price increases rise to 1.4%, largely driven by fresh products (3.3%), while the prices of manufactured goods increased last year by 1.2%, again accelerating.
The rise in gas pump prices, the gas bill, or even the price of some fresh fruits and vegetables are more notable to the public than the actual decline in prices for certain services and technological products.
