France’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.4% in October 2026, up from 3.1% in September, confirming preliminary estimates and reaching its highest level since December 2023. The pickup was largely driven by energy costs, which surged 24.1% year-on-year after a 21.3% increase in September. Within energy, petroleum product prices jumped 38.5%, while gas prices climbed 27.1%.
Services inflation also quickened, rising to 2.6% from 2.4%, and the decline in manufactured goods prices moderated, with a smaller drop of 0.2% versus 0.3% previously. By contrast, food inflation eased to 1.2% from 1.4%, and tobacco inflation held steady at 3.3%. Core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as energy and food, edged up to 1.7% from 1.5%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.4% in October, reversing a 0.3% decline in September, mainly reflecting higher prices for services and energy. The EU-harmonised index showed a similar pattern, with the annual HICP inflation rate rising to 3.7% from 3.4%, while the monthly HICP rose 0.4% after a 0.3% drop in September.
