French inflation rose in May to highest since August 2012
PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) - French inflation rose in May to its highest level since August 2012, according to data from the INSEE national statistics agency, adding to a raft of strong inflation readings across the euro zone as the European Central Bank considers whether or not to tighten its monetary policy.
French consumer prices rose from April due partly to higher energy and food prices. The year-on-year inflation rate came in at 2.3 percent, according to EU-harmonised data from INSEE, above a forecast for an inflation reading of 2.0 percent according to a Reuters poll.
Earlier this week, data had also shown inflation in Germany, the euro zone's biggest economy, surging more than expected in May to its highest level in more than a year, while data also showed inflation picking up in Spain.
Germany's May inflation of 2.2 percent also surpassed the European Central Bank's (ECB) target of just under 2 percent for the euro zone as a whole.
FOR DETAILS FROM INSEE
http://www.insee.fr/en/themes/info-rapide.asp?id=29
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Mark Potter)