French Economy Growth Confirmed at 0.1pct in Q1

After a slight decline in the previous quarter, GDP rose by 0.1% at the beginning of 2025.

French economy growth confirmed at 0.1pct in Q1

KUALA LUMPUR: France’s economy grew slightly in the first quarter, final data from statistics office INSEE showed on Wednesday, confirming the preliminary reading of 0.1 per cent that showed a rise in companies’ inventories balancing out weak domestic demand and exports. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

French Inflation Eases to Lowest Rate Since 2020 on Energy

France’s inflation rate dropped further below the European Central Bank’s 2% target, reaching a more than four-year low and adding to arguments that borrowing costs can be cut further.

The latest provisional data confirm a contrasting trend in prices, with a general decline in some sectors and a sharp increase in the food sector.

Year-on-year inflation in France unexpectedly fell in May. It stood at 0.7 percent, reaching its lowest level since February 2021, when consumer prices rose by 0.6 percent. According to the first estimate of statisticians, the May decrease in inflation was influenced by a slowdown in the growth of services costs and a further fall in energy prices.

France's harmonised inflation rate, used by Eurostat to produce its statistics, has stood at 0.6 per cent year-on-year in May, three tenths below the April figure, the lowest price increase in the country since December 2020.