French consumer prices largely in line with forecasts

French consumer prices rose more than expected on a monthly basis in February, though year on year they remained in negative territory as forecast.

France's consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.3% month-on-month, versus an estimate 0.20% and the previous 0.20% rise.

The yearly figure remained at -0.20% as in January, as economists had estimated.

Using the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) measure, prices fell 0.1% year on year after the 0.3% rise in January, while core inflation was down to 0.7% in February from 0.9% before.