French preliminary inflation at 2.5% in April, above forecasts, as energy costs bite

April 30 (Reuters) – French consumer prices rose more than expected in ​April, preliminary data ‌from statistics agency INSEE showed on Thursday.

France’s harmonized inflation rate, adjusted for ‌comparison ​with other ⁠euro zone countries, ⁠was 2.5% year-on-year in April, driven by a rally in ​energy prices and oil in particular, ⁠the stats ⁠office said.

A Reuters ​poll of 19 analysts ​had expected a median rate ‌of 2.3%, with estimates ranging from 2.2% to 2.6%.

If ⁠the preliminary data is confirmed, April would be the ⁠first ‌month since August ⁠2024 that France ​crosses ‌a European Central ​Bank inflation ⁠target of 2%.

(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi and Michal Aleksandrowicz in Gdansk, editing by Milla ​Nissi-Prussak)