PARIS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- France's consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.4 percent year on year in May, up from 2.2 percent in April, according to data released by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) on Friday.

File photo: AFP

The rise in inflation was driven mainly by a further growth in energy prices, which jumped 16.6 percent in May from a year earlier, up from 14.3 percent in April. INSEE said the surge was largely due to gas prices, which went up 11.3 percent after declining 3.1 percent in the previous month.

Service prices also accelerated, rising 2.1 percent year on year from 1.8 percent in April. By contrast, food price growth slowed slightly to 1.1 percent from 1.2 percent previously.

The CPI increased 0.1 percent in May from the previous month, following a 1.0 percent rise in April. According to INSEE, the monthly increase was driven by higher energy and food prices. Energy prices rose 0.6 percent after increasing 4.7 percent in April, fueled by a 10.3 percent surge in gas prices. Food prices increased 0.3 percent, mainly due to a rise in fresh product prices.

Core inflation stood at 1.5 percent year on year in May, up from 1.2 percent in April, INSEE said.