French inflation slows unexpectedly in December to 6.7%

PARIS  -Inflation in France unexpectedly edged lower in December from a record high a month earlier, helped by slowing energy price rises, preliminary data from the INSEE national statistics body showed on Wednesday.

France’s EU-harmonized inflation rate fell to 6.7 percent in December, INSEE said, down from 7.1 percent in November and below a Reuters poll forecast of 7.2 percent.

Energy prices increased 15.1 percent compared with 18.4 percent in November. Food price inflation remained steady at 12.1 percent.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told France Inter radio that inflation would see a downward trend over the course of 2023. He has previously said inflation would remain high until mid-year before falling back.