France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) has announced that the confidence index for French industry decreased by one percent in June compared to May, standing below its long-term average, according to a survey carried out among French business leaders, with the industrial business climate indicator declining in the given month and entering the unfavorable zone. The industrial economic climate index has been stable since December last year at 100 points.
The outlook on general production, which represents business leaders' opinion on French industry as a whole, weakened in June to a level which is below its long-term average. Overall order books remained markedly down and a majority of industrialists consider them to be below their normal levels. Finally, stocks of finished products in French industry rose slightly in June compared to May and are considered to be close to their normal levels.