April 12 Reuters Consumer prices in France, rose 2.4 year on year in March, statistics office INSEE said on Friday, confirming preliminary data.

Inflation in March was caused mainly by a seasonal increase in manufactured goods prices and a slight increase in tobacco prices, INSEE reported.

Preliminary data had shown France39;s EUharmonised inflation figure standing at 2.4, matching a forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll.

On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.2 in March, having risen 0.9 in February.

Energy prices rose by 3.4 on the year after a 4.3 rise in February, the slower rise reflecting a fall in gas prices and a slowdown in electricity prices.

Food prices in March rose by 1.7, compared to a 3.6 rise in February, INSEE said, adding that this was the 12th month in a row that food inflation had eased.

Services prices in March rose by 3.0 compared to 3.2 the previous month.

Reporting by Stéphanie Hamel; editing by Sharon Singleton and Jason Neely

Source Reuters