French inflation turned negative as expected for the first time in nearly a year during February, final data from the statistical office INSEE showed Monday.
Consumer prices dropped 0.2 percent, offsetting January's 0.2 percent increase. The annual rate matched flash estimate.
This was the first fall in prices since March 2015, when the CPI fell 0.1 percent, and was also the biggest after a 0.3 percent drop in February last year.
Month-on-month, consumer prices advanced 0.3 percent in February versus a 1 percent drop in January. The statistical office revised the monthly inflation for February from 0.2 percent.
Year-on-year, EU harmonized prices slid 0.1 percent as estimated after rising 0.3 percent each in the previous two months.
Compared to January, the harmonized index of consumer prices gained 0.3 percent, in line with expectations.
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