France's annual inflation accelerated to 2.4% in May, from 2.2% in April, provisional data from statistics agency Insee showed Friday.
The consensus estimate for the period was 2.5%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices were 0.1% higher, against the prior 1% jump and the expected 0.3% gain.
The flash annual harmonized inflation rate came in at 2.8%, against the previous month's 2.5% and the market forecast of 2.9%. Month over month, harmonized consumer prices edged up 0.1%, against the previous 1.2% rise and the expected 0.3% increase.