France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) has announced that the industrial economic situation in France has improved according to the industrial business climate indicator for February following a deterioration recorded in the previous month. In February this year, confidence levels in the domestic manufacturing sector increased by three points compared to January this year while remaining significantly below the long-term average, following a survey carried out among French business leaders.
Looking at the outlook for their own individual production, French business leaders consider that the production outlook has improved in the French manufacturing industry. The general production outlook, which represents business leaders' opinion on French industry as a whole, remains below the long-term average. While export order books have improved markedly, total order books are rated as nearly stable and are still considered to be very low.
On the other hand, in the French building industry, the business climate indicator in February has lost a point compared to January and remains below the long-term average. The turning-point indicator is in the unfavorable zone.