Source date: 2026-05-12
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Consumer Price Index: What's the trend? Published on May 13, 2026 - Service Public / Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
On May 13, INSEE released the new Consumer Price Index (CPI). Service Public informs you and reminds you what this indicator is used for.
Image 1 Credits: Philippe Huguen - AFP
The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) confirmed that in April 2026, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1.0% over one month, just as it did in March, following a +0.6% increase in February.
This means that in April 2026, consumer prices rose by 2.2% year-on-year. This rise in inflation is explained, in the context of conflict in the Middle East, by the sharp acceleration in energy prices (+14.3% year-on-year in April), particularly petroleum products (+31.4% in April), including diesel (+42.1% in April after +23.5% in March), gasoline (+17.8% in April after +9.9% in March), and liquid fuels (+58.9% in April after +40.9% in March).
What is the Consumer Price Index used for?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated each month by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) to measure the general evolution of prices for goods and services consumed by households across the entire territory. It is published monthly in the Official Journal.
It is a tool for measuring inflation; it allows for the assessment of the average variation in prices of products consumed by households, at constant quality.
It can be used by anyone to adjust their consumption of various goods and services and gain better control over their spending and purchasing power.
The evolution of the CPI excluding tobacco is used, among other things, for adjusting many private contracts, as well as for revaluing child support payments, the minimum wage (SMIC), or even retirement pensions.
Goods and services covered by the Consumer Price Index
The CPI is calculated based on observing the prices of a fixed basket of goods and services, updated annually. Several sources are used to establish the Consumer Price Index, including:
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collection by field surveyors of prices for various products consumed by households throughout France and across all types of sales outlets;
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online price monitoring;
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collection of purchase data from large retail chains when consumers check out.
The CPI notably takes into account prices observed in the following sectors:
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manufactured goods (clothing, health products, etc.);
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energy (fuel, etc.);
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services (rents, transport services, communication services, etc.).
Certain goods and services are not included because their price evolution is difficult to observe or because they are accounted for in other indices (for example, sales of used vehicles between individuals, antique furniture, works of art and antique carpets, etc.).
How is the CPI calculated?
INSEE calculates the price evolution, between two periods, of the different categories of goods and services studied. The weight of each category placed in this basket of goods and services is then weighted according to its importance in the average budget of French people, in order to obtain an average evolution of the price of this basket.
The INSEE personalized price index simulator allows you to weight different groups of products and services (food, rent, health, water, electricity, etc.) according to your consumption habits, thus better reflecting your lifestyle.
See also
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The new rental reference index (IRL) has just been published Service Public
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Consumer credit: rules are evolving to prevent over-indebtedness Service Public
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In April 2026, consumer prices rose by 2.2% year-on-year National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE)
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Consumer Price Index National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE)
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Source: Service-Public particuliers