France’s economy remained stuck in contraction midway through the opening quarter of 2024. However, the downturn eased considerably as private sector output levels fell at the weakest pace in the current nine-month period of decline. February’s shallower contraction came amid tentative signs of improvement in underlying demand conditions as new orders fell at the softest rate since last May. There was also a rise in employment – the first since October 2023 – while business confidence strengthened to a seven-month high. Meanwhile, inflation continued to descend in February, with cooling cost pressures leading to the ... (full story)