France's leading economic index strengthened throughout the first quarter, suggesting that economic activity may begin improving in the near term, the Conference Board said Tuesday.
The leading index rose 0.5 percent each in March and February. During the six-month span through March, the index gained 1.1 percent, as four of the seven components increased, it said.
At the same time, the coincident economic index, a measure of current economic activity, dipped 0.1 percent. Between September 2012 and March 2013, the index fell 0.3 percent, the same as for the previous six months.
Among the components of coincident index, industrial production, employment and personal consumption declined in March.
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