The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is the main measure of inflation.

The French national institute of statistics and economic studies (Insee) confirmed that, in July 2026, the CPI increased by 0.6% over one month, after a decline in 0.3% in June.

This means that in July 2026, consumer prices rose by 2.1% year-on-year, after +1.8% in June. This increase in inflation is explained by the acceleration in prices of services, particularly accommodation and communications, as well as energy prices, driven by higher prices for gas and oil products. In addition, the decline in the prices of manufactured goods is easing, after having been marked in June by the start of summer sales.

What is the purpose of the consumer price index?

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated each month by the French national institute of statistics and economic studies (Insee) to measure the general evolution of the prices of goods and services consumed by households throughout the country. It is published monthly in Official journal of the French Republic.

It is an instrument for measuring inflation; it makes it possible to evaluate the average variation in the prices of products consumed by households, at constant quality.

It can be used by everyone to adapt their consumption of different goods and services and have better control over their spending and purchasing power.

Goods and services covered by the consumer price index

The CPI is calculated by observing the prices of a basket of fixed goods and services, updated each year. Several sources are used to establish the consumer price index, including:

• the collection by field investigators of the prices of different products consumed by households throughout France and in all forms of points of sale;
• a price statement on the internet;
• the collection of purchase data by supermarket retailers at the time consumers go to the checkout.

In particular, the CPI takes into account prices observed in the following sectors:

• feeding;
• tobacco;
• manufactured goods (clothing, health products, etc.);
• energy (fuel, etc.);
• services (rent, transport services, communication services, etc.).

Some goods and services are not taken into account because their price evolution is difficult to observe or because they are counted in other indices (e.g. sales of second-hand vehicles between individuals, antique furniture, antique works of art and carpets, etc.).

How is the CPI calculated?

The Insee calculates the price evolution, between 2 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 French budget, in order to obtain an average evolution of the price of this basket.