--French final Dec unadj CPI -0.1% on month, +1.6% on year
--French final adjusted Dec CPI -0.2% on month, +1.7% on year
--French final Dec harmonized CPI 0.0% on month, +1.7% on year
By BridgeNews
Paris--Jan. 24--French final consumer prices fell an unadjusted monthly 0.1% in December, recovering from a blip up the prior month amid a slide in petroleum and food prices, according to final data released Wednesday by national statistics institute INSEE. CPI rose 1.6% on year, dropping back below the key 2% mark identified by the European Central Bank as a worrisome inflation level. The data was unchanged from preliminary figures reported Jan. 12.
* * * Measured on a HICP index that harmonizes the calculation of inflation across the Europe Union, French prices were flat in December and were up 1.7% on the year.
On an adjusted basis, December CPI fell 0.2% on month and rose 1.7% on year.
The figures follow November's unadjusted 0.3% monthly gain and 2.2% annual rise.
Excluding energy, which has fueled the index higher since September, December CPI was up 0.1% on the month and 1.1% on the year, as health services and clothing costs rose.
LEADING THE WAY:
--Energy prices slid after remaining strong in November, falling 1.8% in December though up 7.8% on year. The prior month, prices rose 1.5% and 13.3% compared with November last year.
--Within this category oil product prices sank 2.8% on month but were up 10.6% on year, compared with November's monthly 0.4% and yearly 19.7% annual gain.
--Food prices came off as well, up 0.1% on month and 2.8% on year following November's 0.7% monthly and 3.2% annual increases.
--Within that category, fresh food costs slipped 1.1% on month and rose 3.6% on year. In November, these prices jumped 3.5% on month and 6.5% on year.
OFFSETTING FACTORS
--Overall manufactured goods prices edged up 0.1% on month and 0.4% on year.
--Within that category, clothing and textile prices rose 0.2% on month and 0.3% on year, after a 0.2% monthly decline and a 0.1% annual gain in November.
--In the services sector, health services costs rose 0.4% from November and by the same amount on year, after a 0.1% dip the prior month.
--The costs of other services rose 0.2% on month and 1.8% on year. In November these were down 0.1% on month and up 1.9% on year.
--Transport and communication costs cooled after a November increase, slipping 0.1% on month in December and by 2.8% on year. End