REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Aug 31 (Reuters) - French inflation accelerated more than expected in August as a new fall in food inflation was more than offset by higher energy prices, preliminary EU-harmonised official data showed on Thursday.
French consumer prices reached a 12-month inflation rate of 5.7%, up from 5.1% in July, the INSEE stats agency said.
A Reuters poll of 18 economists had an average forecast for the 12-month inflation rate of 5.4% with estimates ranging from 4.7% to 5.8%.
"This rise in inflation is due to a rebound in energy prices.
Food prices were up 11.1% in August, versus +12.7% in July while energy prices, which fell by 3.7% last month, rose 6.8%.
Persons:
Eric Gaillard, Bruno Le Maire, Benoit Van Overstraeten, Jean, Michel Belot, Silvia Aloisi
Organizations:
REUTERS, Rights, French Finance, Thomson
Locations:
Nice, France