French inflation hit near 10-year high of 2.7 percent in September

French inflation rose in September slightly less than expected but still reached its highest rate in nearly a decade, preliminary data from the INSEE statistics agency showed on Thursday.

INSEE said its EU-harmonised consumer prices index fell 0.2 percent from August, giving a 12-month inflation rate of 2.7 percent, up from 2.4 percent in August.

The September rate was the highest since December 2011, but was slightly below an average forecast for 2.8 percent in a Reuters poll of 24 economists' expectations.

As is the currently the case in many countries, surging energy prices are driving the inflation spike in France. They rose 14.4 percent over one year in September, INSEE said. -- Reuters