France's inflation rate has risen slightly as domestic consumer prices in March fell by 0.1 percent compared to a year earlier but increased 0.7 percent from the previous month, the country's statistics bureau said Wednesday.

"As every year in March, consumer prices were mainly driven up by manufactured products, whose prices recovered after winter sales," the statistics bureau said in its monthly economic report. The consumer price index is a key gauge for inflation.

French officials set the country's inflation rate at 1 percent for the whole year of 2016.

After nine consecutive months of decline, energy prices were up by 0.9 percent due to higher oil prices, said the report.

Service costs, including transportation and communication prices, also inched up by 0.1 percent, following a seasonal increase in accommodation prices, it added. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)