PARIS: French inflation slowed in March, official data showed Friday, joining other eurozone countries in reporting an easing of price increases.

Inflation reached 5.6 percent year-on-year in March, down from 6.3 percent in February, according to the INSEE statistics institute, reports AFP.

In Germany, Europe's biggest economy, price growth eased to 7.4 percent in March from 8.7 percent in the first two months of the year, official data showed on Thursday.

The drop was even sharper in Spain, with inflation easing to 3.3 percent after six percent in February.

March inflation for the 20-nation eurozone will be published later on Friday.