France's EU measure of inflation slowed in August even as prices rebounded after declining in July, preliminary figures from the statistical office INSEE showed Tuesday.
The harmonized index of consumer prices edged up 0.1 percent year-on-year. Economists had expected the measure to climb at July's 0.2 percent pace.
On a month-on-month basis, the HICP rose 0.4 percent in August, recovering from a 0.5 percent fall in July. Economists had forecast a 0.3 percent gain.
The consumer price index remained unchanged from a year ago, defying economists expectations for a 0.1 percent increase. In July, the CPI rose 0.2 percent.
Compared to the previous month, consumer prices increased 0.3 percent, rebounding from a 0.4 percent slump in July. The increase was in line with economists' expectations.
In August, the main contributors to the rise in the CPI came from seasonal increases in the manufactured product prices at the end of the summer sales in Metropolitan France and in some services related to tourism at the time of the summer holidays, the INSEE said.
Those gains were partially offset by a further decrease in prices of petroleum products and the seasonal decline in prices of fresh food, the agency added.
The core CPI, which excludes prices of public sector services, volatile items and tax measures, rose 0.6 percent annually, which was slightly less than the 0.7 percent gain in July. The measure climbed 0.1 percent from the previous month, same as in July.
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