The Bank of France on Monday predicted that the French economy is set to grow in the second quarter, repeating a modest expansion seen for the first three months of the year.
The bank forecast 0.1 percent growth as its first estimate for the second quarter. For the first quarter, the bank had predicted 0.1 percent growth. The statistical office INSEE is set to release the first quarter GDP figures on May 15.
Results of the monthly survey by the Bank of France also revealed that the business sentiment indicator for the manufacturing industry rose to 94 in April from 93 in March. The corresponding indicator for services held steady at 88 in April.
In manufacturing, capacity utilization improved in April, though order books remained thin despite a rebound in demand. Prices continued to fall and businesses expect activity to shrink slightly in May.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.