Paris - French consumer prices fell by 0.2 per cent in December compared to the previous month, owing largely to falling energy prices, the government's statistical office INSEE said on Wednesday.

Year on year, inflation stood at 1 per cent, INSEE said, after energy prices fell by 5.6 per cent in December, driven by a drop of 9.4 per cent in the cost of petroleum products.

Over 12 months, the price of petroleum products declined by nearly 15 per cent.

In addition, the cost of fresh produce fell by 0.8 per cent compared to November, and was down 1.5 per cent over December 2007. (dpa)