Economy

French education minister joins Montebourg attack on government policy

France — Link

Benoît Hamon has joined the economy minister in a revolt against austerity measures, warning that they are sending France into recession.

France to see slow growth continue

France — Link

Bank of France forecasts 0.2% economic growth in third quarter, while statistics agency INSEE forecast 0.7% expansion for whole of 2014.

France deflation fears as prices fall

France — Link

French statistics office Insee said prices in January fell by 0.6% compared with previous month, prompting economists to warn of possible deflation.

France returns to growth

France — Link

The French national statistics institute reported the country's economy expanded by 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2013, more than expected.

Hollande under pressure to deliver after policy 'U-turn'

France — Link

Public embrace of 'supply-side socialism' is generating as much pressure on the French president as are revelations of his personal life.

Cameron trumpets British recovery in 'swipe at France'

International — Link

UK premier's talk of countries with 'increasing unemployment, industrial stagnation and enterprise in free-fall' seen as attack on French policies.

PMI survey raises fear that France is back in recession

France — Link

France's reading in Markit's latest purchasing managers' index falls to a seven-month low, suggesting accelerating economic contraction.

French economy slumps back into contraction

France — Link

France's economy shrank by 0.1% in the third quarter but ministers insist that the overall figures for 2013 will show growth.

French industrial output contracts unexpectedly in June

France — Link

Industrial output fell 1.4 percent in June from the previous month, contrasting with recent positive data, and underlining recovery is still fragile.

Sunday shopping ban under pressure amid France's work-life balance debate

France — Link

Unions and church leaders support ban on Sunday shopping, but business federations appear to be winning public support to overturn the rule.

France slips back into recession

France — Link

France is in a second recession in four years after the economy shrank by 0.2% in the last quarter of 2012 and in the first quarter of 2013.

France back in hedge funds' sights as economy stutters

Économie et social — Link

Funds are speculating that President Hollande's gamble on increasing public spending to boost economic growth will fail.

France moves to catch up lost ground in the race for foreign talent

International

Earlier this week the French Senate held the first of two parliamentary consultative debates to explore how to make France a more attractive destination for skilled foreign professionals and students, an issue that has long been neglected and submerged under the anti-immigration policies and political rhetoric of the government’s predecessors. In a move to catch up with initiatives launched by other countries, the government plans to present a bill of law this summer to reform its immigration legislation to attempt to facilitate and encourage professional immigration. Carine Fouteau reports on how what was once a political taboo is now the subject of an open and aggressive competition for an ever-growing and increasingly-needed pool of talent worldwide.

French finance minister confirms 0.1% growth this year

France — Link

French finance minister Pierre Moscovici revises downward a previous estimate of 0.8 percent growth in 2013 as economy struggles.

German and French economies contract

France — Link

Hopes of economic recovery in eurozone thrown into doubt after figures confirm its two largest economies have performed worse than forecast.