Here are several pieces of good news on the economic front! Three indicators are positive: growth is expected to increase by 0.4% in the first quarter of this year, and again by 0.4% in the second quarter, which is quite a performance (everything is relative), according to Insee.
But that’s not all: consumption is picking up, and businesses are smiling again, thanks to a significant increase in their margins.
The officials at Bercy had predicted that France’s GDP would increase by 1.5% this year, compared to 2015.
For this figure to be achieved, the growth in the first two quarters would need to be maintained at an identical pace during the following two quarters.
Meanwhile, with a growth of 0.8% expected just in the first two quarters of the year, the recovery seems well and truly underway.
The second indicator of a certain regained dynamism is household consumption, which is on the rise again.
Companies are also regaining confidence and turning to investment. Their profit margin increased by 1.8% in 2015 over one year. It would stand at 32.5% by mid-2016, its highest level since late 2008.
Consequently, Insee forecasts a very slight decrease in the unemployment rate, to 10.2% across France by mid-2016.
