French inflation slows faster than expected in May - INSEE

The slowdown in the monthly rate left the 12-month inflation rate at 0.9% from a revised 1.3% in April. The annual rate was below a forecast for 1.1%.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has a target for inflation within the euro zone bloc at just below 2%, although faltering economic growth in the region has resulted in euro zone inflation consistently coming in below the ECB's target.