France: France's inflation rate rose by 0.8 percent year-on-year in December, a slight slowdown compared to November's 0.9 percent.

According to Qatar News Agency, a statement issued today by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) indicated that the slight decrease in the pace of inflation is mainly due to the sharp decline in energy prices. Energy prices fell by 6.8 percent year-on-year in December, compared to a decrease of 4.6 percent in November, particularly in petroleum product prices. Meanwhile, food prices rose by 1.7 percent, driven mainly by an increase in fresh product prices, while prices for manufactured goods decreased by 0.4 percent.

The data also revealed that the unified consumer price index rose by 0.7 percent year-on-year in December, after recording 0.8 percent in November. On a month-on-month basis, the index increased by 0.1 percent, compared to the previous month when it recorded a 0.2 percent increase.