This is good news for household wallets. Inflation is stable in France. It stood at 1.3% in December, according to a provisional estimate from INSEE. An increase in consumer prices which is similar to that of the month of November. Over one month, consumer prices increased by 0.2% in December, after a decline of 0.1% in November.
According to experts, in December, energy prices (+1.2%) recorded a slight rebound which was offset by the continued decline in manufactured products (-0.4%) and the stagnation of prices of food (0.0%). Conversely, the prices of services, which represent more than half of the household consumption basket, increased by 2.3% year-on-year, as in November.
Rise in tobacco prices
On the tobacco side, prices increased by 8.7% over one year, and remain stable compared to the previous month. But as a result of a decree dated December 10, the price of cigarettes was increased on January 1, up to one euro per pack, according to the manufacturers. A pack of cigarettes sometimes now exceeds 12.50 euros.
Another index monitored by consumers: the harmonized consumer price index (HICP) which allows comparisons between European countries. It, for its part, increased by 1.8% in December over one year, after 1.7% in November. It is up 0.2% over one month after -0.1% in November.
For 2025, INSEE said in December that it foresees the start of the year « morose » for the French economy, while the government is trying to provide the country with a budget which would be marked by a budgetary effort of 50 billion euros. But, a positive point for households, the institute sees inflation falling to 1% in June.
