In 2012 Q2, French gross domestic product (GDP) in volume* held steady (0.0%). Households’ consumption expenditure slightly declined (–0.2% after +0.2%), while gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) increased anew (+0.6%) after a step back in Q1 (–0.8%). Overall, total domestic demand (excluding changes in inventories) drove GDP on for only 0.1 point of growth after being neutral in Q1. Imports markedly accelerated (+1.8% after +0.6%), while exports remained subdued (+0.2% after +0.1%). Consequently, foreign trade balance contributed again negatively to GDP growth (–0.5 point after –0.1 point). In Q2, changes in ... (full story)