May inflation rises in France, Germany, Spain amid impact of Iran war

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May inflation rises in France, Germany, Spain amid impact of Iran war

2026-06-13 17:11 Last Updated At：21:17

France, Germany and Spain saw inflation rises in May amid impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, said the three countries' respective statistical authorities on Friday.

France's consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.4 percent year on year in May, up from 2.2 percent in April, according to data released by the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) on Friday.

The rise in inflation was driven mainly by a further growth in energy prices, which jumped 16.6 percent in May from a year earlier, up from 14.3 percent in April. INSEE said the surge was largely due to gas prices, which went up 11.3 percent after declining 3.1 percent in the previous month.

Service prices were up 2.1 percent year on year in May, higher than the rise of 1.8 percent in April.

By contrast, food price growth slowed slightly to 1.1 percent from 1.2 percent previously.

Core inflation stood at 1.5 percent year on year in May, up from 1.2 percent in April, INSEE said.

The May inflation rate in Germany stood at 2.6 percent year on year, slowing from 2.9 percent in April, the Federal Statistical Office said on Friday.

The prices of energy products were 6.6 percent higher in May than one year earlier, "primarily due to the price developments on the crude oil market in the wake of" the war in Iran and other parts of the Middle East, said the office, noting that the year-on-year increase in energy prices in May was much lower than the 10.1-percent surge in April.

Germany's service prices went up 3.1 percent year on year in May, food prices were up 0.4 percent, with the core inflation rate (excluding food and energy) reaching 2.5 percent.

Spain's inflation rose 3.2 percent year on year in May, the same as in April, in the midst of the impact of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, said the National Statistics Institute (INE) on Friday.

The country's prices of entertainment, sports and cultural activities rose by 2.6 percent year on year in May, when transportation prices increased by 7.4 percent from a year earlier.

Spain's core inflation in May rose to 3 percent, 0.2 percentage point higher than in April.

Mongolian president meets Chinese FM

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh met with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, in Ulan Bator on Saturday.

During the meeting, Khurelsukh said the Mongolia-China relationship has become a model for inter-state relations in the region.

The two countries have consistently respected each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, while deepening mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors, he said, noting that bilateral trade is expected to reach 20 billion U.S. dollars this year.

Describing China as Mongolia's good neighbor, Khurelsukh said that developing friendly relations with China is a top priority of Mongolia's foreign policy.

Khurelsukh said Mongolia is committed to the one-China principle, regarding Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory, and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" activities. It also considers matters related to Hong Kong, Xizang and Xinjiang as China's internal affairs. Mongolia will not do anything that harms China's interests, regardless of its relations with other countries.

He also noted that Mongolia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in regional and international affairs.

For his part, Wang said China has always put China-Mongolia relations at an important place in its neighborhood diplomacy, noting that China has both the will and the capability to be a neighbor that Mongolia can rely on, a trustworthy friend, and a partner in accelerating its development.

Wang reaffirmed China's respect for Mongolia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the development path that Mongolia has chosen for itself.

He expressed readiness to work more closely with Mongolia to align development strategies, tap into the full potential of bilateral cooperation, advance existing collaboration in areas such as connectivity, energy and mineral resources, trade and investment, and create new growth drivers for cooperation in key minerals, green development, the digital economy, and other emerging fields.

During his three-day visit, Wang is also scheduled to meet with Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral and hold talks with Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg.