Finance
French central bank sees 0.3% third-quarter growth
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 9, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 9, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
The French economy is expected to grow 0.3% in Q3, driven by strong manufacturing, despite political uncertainties.
PARIS (Reuters) -France's economy is set to maintain steady growth in the third quarter despite the re-emergence of political uncertainty, thanks to solid manufacturing activity, the central bank forecast on Tuesday.
The euro zone's second-biggest economy was on course to grow 0.3% from the second quarter when it also grew 0.3%, the Bank of France said in its monthly economic outlook, leaving its estimate unchanged from August.
Drawing on the findings of its monthly survey of business sentiment, the central bank said manufacturing was benefiting from firm activity in the aviation and pharmaceutical industries, where France counts industry leaders like Airbus and Sanofi.
"In these sectors, business leaders report resilient external demand and (flag) their ability to capitalise on shifting trade flows," it said.
The service sector saw more mixed fortunes, while activity was seen falling in construction and in the energy sector, the central bank said.
Executives signalled a jump in uncertainty for business prospects after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou called a vote of confidence in his government, which he lost on Monday to leave President Emmanuel Macron seeking his fifth premier in less than two years.
Uncertainty has also been fuelled by grassroots calls to disrupt airports, train stations and highways with blockades or acts of sabotage. The movement, which sprang up online and has no centralised leadership, is to hold a first day of action on Wednesday across France.
(Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The French central bank projects a growth rate of 0.3% for the third quarter.
The aviation and pharmaceutical industries are driving growth in manufacturing, benefiting from resilient external demand.
Political uncertainty has led to a jump in executives' concerns about business prospects, particularly after a recent vote of confidence was lost.
The service sector is experiencing mixed fortunes, while the construction and energy sectors are seeing declines.
Grassroots movements are calling for disruptions at airports, train stations, and highways, contributing to the overall uncertainty.
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