In February this year, the seasonal and working-day adjusted turnover index in France's manufacturing industry increased by 0.6 percent month on month, following a month-on-month fall of 1.6 percent recorded in January, according to France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). Exports of France's manufacturing sector were stable month on month in February, after the 3.4 percent decrease registered in January compared to December 2012.
On year-on-year basis, the turnover decreased in the manufacturing industry by 0.6 percent, while it fell by a larger margin of 5.8 percent in the manufacture of transport equipment.
In February this year, the turnover in French manufacture of transport equipment increased by four percent compared to January, mainly in the manufacture of motor vehicles other than automobiles with a 6.2 percent month-on-month rise. Meanwhile, a 0.3 percent month-on-month decrease was recorded in the turnover in French metal and metal product manufacturing, following the 2.2 percent month-on-month fall recorded in January. However, in February, the turnover in the French construction industry also decreased by 0.3 percent after the 1.6 percent rise in January, both compared to the previous month.