French GDP expected to rise by 0.5%
Based on the estimates made by CDC IXIS, a European investment and financing bank, France's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is expected to rise by 0.5% in the third quarter, followed by a 0.6% increase in the fourth quarter. For the full year, GDP is expected to increase by 2.4%. CDC IXIS revised down its third quarter estimate to 0.5% from 0.6% due to the slowdown in consumer spending in September. The bank's economists stated that the high level of unemployment and rising oil prices started to impact consumer spending.