France’s Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) rose 1.1% year-over-year in February 2026, according to the latest data updated on 13 March 2026. The annual rate picked up notably from 0.4% recorded previously, also for February 2026 on a year-over-year basis, signaling a clear acceleration in price growth compared with the same month a year earlier.
The figures are presented on a year-over-year comparison, meaning the “actual” reflects the change in prices in February 2026 versus February a year earlier, while the “previous” reading reflects the change in prices in the prior reference period compared to its respective year-ago level. The move from 0.4% to 1.1% suggests that inflationary pressures in France, as measured on the harmonised EU standard, have strengthened over the latest reference period. Investors and policymakers will be watching subsequent releases to assess whether this marks the start of a more persistent upward trend in French consumer prices.
