How lower inflation rate is affecting food prices in France

A drop in the inflation rate is causing the price of many everyday products in French supermarkets to fall.

The news will be welcomed by households across France, which may benefit from price drops of up to 7% on some products.

The change in prices has been driven by a relatively low level of inflation in France, which was +1.3% for consumer goods between December 2023 and December 2024 (+2% overall).

Inflation solely in the food and drinks sector was much less severe, contributing to a -0.2% drop overall in prices at the end of 2024 compared to 2023 (although the price of some items still rose).

Economists predict that the ‘inflationary episode’ between 2021 and 2023 – spurred on by the Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – is definitively over, and prices across many sectors will begin to drop. 

Read more: Purchasing power in France set to improve in 2025

Fighting a rising cost of living and improving purchasing power was a cornerstone measure of the previous governments, as seen by former prime minister Michel Barnier’s early triggering of a minimum wage hike in November 2024. 

Read more: Confirmed: France’s minimum wage will not automatically rise on January 1 after 2024 increase

Many supermarkets have also enacted plans to keep prices low on certain ‘staple’ goods. 

Which products saw the biggest drop? 

Far and away the biggest staple item to see prices fall in the previous 12 months was margarine, at -7%, according to French media outlet BFMTV. 

This was followed by frozen fish and fresh vegetables (both at -3.5%) and pre-made meals (-3.4%).

The price of kitchen staples including pasta (-2.5%), flour (-2.1%), rice (-1.6%) and eggs (-1.5%) also fell. 

Other products seeing prices drop included: 

• Salt and other spices (-1.9%) 
• Prepared seafood (-1.9%) 
• Poultry (-1.4%) 
• Yoghurts (-1%) 
• Breakfast cereals (-0.8%) 
• Pizzas / quiches (-0.2%) 

Did any products see prices rise? 

Despite a fall in the price of potato chips/crisps (-2.4%), another popular snack item saw prices rocket. 

The price of chocolate-based products has increased by +10.3%, notably due to a rise in the price of cocoa, backed by the government of Ivory Coast where a large portion of cocoa for the French market originates. 

The price of olive oil is still high, in some cases +28% above those in 2023. 

However, a recent bumper harvest is set to see prices reduce. 

Read more: Olive oil prices in France set to fall with bumper harvest in sight