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French private sector business activity falls at slightly faster pace
France’s private sector economy remained in contraction territory at the end of the first quarter, according to the latest HCOB Flash PMI survey. Although the decline in business activity accelerated slightly since February, it was still only modest and the second-weakest over the current ten-month downturn. The faster fall in output came amid a quicker deterioration in demand for French goods and services, with this also contributing to a renewed decrease in employment. However, firms’ expectations for growth in the coming year rose to a 14-month high. With weakness in demand persisting, the rate of output ... (full story)