Consupmtion in goods of French households was expanded by 3 percent in February after falling by 0.4 percent a month earlier due to energy purchases boom, official figures said on Friday.

French consumers spent 11.7 percent more to buy energy goods as freezing cold over the period pulled high the expenditures, according to the national statistics institute Insee.

After two consecutive months of decrease, consumption of textile and leather jumped by 5.7 percent as "the cold spell could have driven purchases in winter clothing up," Insee added in its monthly report.

French households were less interested to buy cars at the end of February during which expenditure in vehicles inched down by 0.8 percent.

France estimated 2012 inflation rate at 1.7 percent.