economic growth

 Finance minister Bruno Le Maire cut the country’s 2021 GDP growth forecast to 5% from 6%, following an 8.1% contraction last year.

After growth of only 1.1 percent last year, the French economy is set to grow 1.7 percent this year, its highest rate since 2011 but still lagging the euro zone average, predicts a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the first since Emmanuel Macron's election as president.

French business activity has grown since January faster than that in Germany for the first time since 2012, according to IHS Markit's latest Purchasing Managers’ Index, which showed an overall rise in economic activity in the 19-nation eurozone to be on track for a quarterly growth of 0.6 percent.  

Economy minister Michel Sapin agreed that 0.2% figure would make it 'more difficult' to reach government target of 1.5% growth in 2016.

Since 1999, France has a more impressive record on economic growth, productivity and financial sector stability than many eurozone peers.

France must deepen its economic reforms to avoid long-term decline and cut the pace of fiscal tightening to help hesitant recovery, warns IMF.