France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) has announced that confidence levels in the domestic manufacturing sector fell three points month on month in April this year, following a survey carried out among French business leaders.
The business leaders polled stated that their recent activity in the French manufacturing industry slightly increased, while stocks of finished products are below normal levels. Total order books have slightly decreased and are still rated as low, while export order books have deteriorated markedly and continue to be rated below their historical average.
In addition, activity in the French manufacturing industry is expected to weaken in the coming months. The general production outlook, which represents business leaders' opinion on French industry as a whole, remain steady and are remains below the long-term average.
On the other hand, in the French building industry, the economic climate has remained dull and is still under the long-term average, while activity is expected to be weaken in the coming months.