France's inflation is rising sharply, as in many other EU countries. This is due to developments in the Middle East and soaring energy prices. The EU-harmonized index of consumer prices, HICP, rose 1.9 percent in March compared to the same month the previous year, which was also in line with the market's advance forecast. The increase was up from 1.1 percent in February. The March figure is now the highest since August 2024. [...]