In January this year, the seasonal and working-day adjusted turnover index in France's manufacturing industry decreased by 1.9 percent month on month, following a month-on-month rise recorded in December 2012, according to France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). Exports of France's manufacturing sector decreased by 3.4 percent month on month in January, after the 4.6 percent increase registered in December compared to November.
In January this year, the turnover in French manufacture of transport equipment decreased by 6.8 percent compared to December last year, mainly in the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers with an 11.6 percent month-on-month fall. Meanwhile, a 2.1 percent month-on-month decrease was recorded in the turnover in French metal and metal product manufacturing, following the 3.5 percent month-on-month rise recorded in December. However, in January, the turnover in the French construction industry increased by 1.4 percent, after the 0.4 percent fall in December, both compared to the previous month.