French official inflation climbs to 2.1%

French 12-month inflation inched up to 2.1 percent in June, from 2.0 percent in May, official data showed on Tuesday, but economists said prices were firmly under control Prices were nearly stable month-on-month, rising just 0.1 percent in June following a rise of the same amount in May, the national statistics agency INSEE said. Food prices rose again in June, by 0.3 percent after a rise of 1.0 percent the previous month. Services rose 0.2 percent with the start of the holiday season which saw the price of vacation accommodation rise by 16.7 percent. But energy prices dropped by 0.5 percent after a fall of 1.3 percent in May, and clothes and footwear fell by 1.0 percent. "You can't really talk about prices getting out of control in France. Inflation is contained for the moment," said Alexander Law of the Xerfi consultancy in Paris.