The annual inflation rate in France accelerated for a third consecutive month to 3% in September 2026, the highest since February 2024, compared to 2.4% in August and forecasts of 2.8%, preliminary estimates showed. Energy prices accelerated again (21.2% vs 16.7%) driven by higher for petroleum products and gas. Services inflation also edged up (2.2% vs 1.9%), partly because the seasonal decline in accommodation and transport prices is likely to be less pronounced than in September 2025. Food prices increased at a faster pace (1.5% vs 1.1%), particularly those of fresh products, while prices for manufactured goods fell slightly less (-0.3% vs -0.4%). Meanwhile, tobacco prices increased 3.3%, the same as in August. Compared to the previous month, the CPI decreased 0.3%, following a 0.7% rise.