2012.04.2704:01:00UTC+00French Output Prices Rise In March

France's producer prices increased from last year in March, data released by statistical office Insee showed Friday.

The producer price index for the French market increased 2.1 percent on an annual basis in March. Economists were looking for a 4 percent increase.

Output prices in the mining and quarrying industry rose 1.5 percent annually, while manufacturing prices moved up 2.3 percent.

Prices of goods sold in the overseas market grew 1.6 percent year-on-year, while prices in all markets rose 2 percent from last year.

On a monthly basis, output prices moved up 0.5 percent in March, slower than the previous month's 0.6 percent growth, which was revised down from 0.8 percent. Economists expected the rate of growth to remain unchanged month-on-month.

The agency said import prices in France moved up 1 percent month-on-month in March, taking the annual growth to 3.2 percent.