The French statistical office Insee released its preliminary consumer price inflation for France on Thursday. The French consumer price inflation increased 0.7% in March, after a 0.3% rise in February.

The monthly increase was mainly driven by a seasonal price upturn in manufactured product after the end of winter sales.

On a yearly basis, the consumer price index remained unchanged at -0.2% in March.

The annual drop was driven by a fall in energy prices.

Food prices rose 0.4% year-on-year in March, services prices climbed 0.8%, while energy prices dropped by 7.0%.