Improving Global Growth Prospect Is Bullish For The French Economy

 | Apr 13, 2017 02:39AM ET

Improving global growth prospect is bullish for the French economy. Will FR 40 continue rising?

The French economy accelerated in the last quarter of 2016 as the Q4 GDP grew 0.4% over quarter after 0.3% growth in third quarter. The Markit Flash Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose from 55.9 in February to 56.8 in March, with Services PMI reaching 57.5 from 56.4 in the previous month. Services account for 79% of the economy. At the same time, both the trade balance deficit and the current account deficit fell in February, and the consumer confidence remained steady at over nine year high in March at 100 points recorded in February.

Retail sales grew 0.7% in February after 0.3% gain in January. However industrial production slumped 1.6% in February after 0.2% contraction in the first month of 2017. As the outlook for global economic growth improves the French economy will continue accelerating unless political uncertainty surrounding presidential elections negatively affects economy’s short term growth prospects.