The races are heavier at the checkout and the wallet is much lighter at the end of the month. Inflation in France peaks at 1.6% over the whole of 2021 as an annual average, according to figures unveiled this Friday by INSEE.
This price increase is the highest recorded since 2018. It mainly reflects the surge in energy prices and the rise in prices of manufactured products observed in recent months, following the economic recovery.
Consumer prices, calculated in comparison with the previous year, increased by 0.5% in 2020, a year marked by the onset of the Covid-19 epidemic, by 1.1% in 2019, and by 1.8% in 2018, adds the National Institute of Statistics.
2.8% in December
With the arrival of vaccines, states have relaunched the productive machine almost all at the same time asking for electricity and raw materials, which drives up prices. Added to this are border disruptions and labor shortages in some sectors.
A situation described as temporary by the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, but which might last several years. In December, consumer prices rose 2.8% confirming the trend, far from fading for the moment.
To imitate the impact on purchasing power, the government has announced numerous one-off measures, including limiting the increase in electricity prices to 4%. Large-scale distribution, for its part, engaged in an escalation of commercial gestures.
Latest to date, the 29 centime baguette from Leclerc. A means of attracting customers which greatly annoyed traditional bakers, while the prices of bread and cereals jumped 1.7%, due in particular to the rise in the price of pasta, at the same rate as the price. meat.
