The year-on-year price increase was 4.8% in April, already the highest in nearly 37 years.

In May, prices were up for all consumption items listed by the National Institute of Statistics, with a new surge in energy in particular.

“After their decline the previous month, energy prices should recover in line with the rebound in the price of petroleum products”, details INSEE, while the war in Ukraine has caused commodity prices to soar.

They thus accelerated by 28% over one year, after a rise of 26.5% in April.

Food prices rose by 4.2% (3.8% last month) and those of services by 3.2% (3% in April).

Basis of comparison between European countries, the harmonized consumer price index (HICP) would increase by 5.8% in May, after 5.4% “in April, specifies INSEE.

The comparison between France and its European neighbors remains however rather flattering, German inflation having recorded a new record on Monday (+7.9% over one year in May).

After a slowdown in price increases in April, Spain also saw its inflation rate rise to 8.7% over one year in May.

In the United States, on the other hand, two recent indicators pointed to a slowdown in inflation in April, even if it remained at an exceptionally high level.

INSEE is due to publish its final estimate of inflation in May in mid-June.

In its latest economic report, the institute anticipated inflation of 5.4% over one year in June.

© 2022 AFP