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Strong expansion in services activity drives best month of growth in French economy since March 2023
France’s private sector registered its first month of expansion since April during August, latest HCOB PMI® survey data revealed, with the overall pace of growth at its quickest since March 2023 as a strong upturn in services activity propelled the broader economy. This came despite an intensification of manufacturing malaise, as factory orders fell at the steepest pace in over four years. Indeed, aside from the headline index’s improvement, August PMI data highlighted fragility across France’s economy. Private sector employment decreased for the first time since January, while overall new business also ... (full story)