The French consumer prices index for November showed a fall of 0.2 pct compared with a flat reading in October, according to figures from the Insee statistics office. Year-on-year CPI was up 1.6 pct against a 1.9 pct rise the previous month. Both readings were below expectations; economists polled by AFX News had forecast a consensus 0.1 pct fall month-on-month, and a 1.8 pct increase over the year. Underlying 'core' inflation, which excludes products with either regulated or highly-volatile prices, rose by 0.1 pct in November from an unchanged level in October. Food and tobacco increased 0.3 pct on the month, manufactured goods were down 0.1 pct, and services CPI was unchanged. The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) calculated to allow comparison with other EU members was down 0.3 pct month-on-month and rose 1.8 pct over the year.