France’s consumer price index (CPI) rebounded sharply in February 2026, with month‑over‑month inflation rising 0.7%, according to data updated on 27 February 2026. This marks a strong turnaround from January 2026, when prices fell 0.3% on a monthly basis.
The February reading underscores a notable shift in short‑term price dynamics, as the current figure compares the change in prices in February versus January, while the previous figure reflected the change in January versus December. The move from a negative to a clearly positive monthly rate suggests that disinflationary or temporary downward pressures seen at the start of the year have eased, with price momentum picking up again in the French economy.
While the data release only covers the month‑over‑month comparison, the reversal from ‑0.3% to +0.7% will be closely watched by market participants and policymakers as they assess the underlying trend in French inflation and its implications for consumption, corporate pricing power and the broader policy outlook.
