In July, business leaders in the French manufacturing industry stated that investments in the industry in 2011 were up 12 percent compared to 2010, according to France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE).
In July this year, business leaders in the manufacturing industry forecast an increase of five percent in their investment for 2012 compared to 2011. The rebound in investment is expected to be particularly important in the the manufacture of transport equipment (+18 percent in 2012 after a rise of four percent in 2011). The rebound is also expected to be sharp in the motor vehicle sector (+27 percent after -4 percent in 2011).
Meanwhile, business leaders in the French manufacturing industry state that investments increased in the first half of 2012 compared to the second half of 2011, in accordance with their forecasts in January. For the second half of 2012, they anticipate that investment will be less important compared to the first half of this year.