French GDP growth to be 0.5% in Q2
The growth in France's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is expected to amount 0.5% in the second quarter of this year and 0.4% in the third quarter. Last week, French statistics office Insee said that GDP grew by 0.8% in the first quarter, following the 0.6% rise recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003. Separately, French Finance Minister forecasts GDP growth to reach 2.5% in 2005. For 2004, Insee predicts a 2.3% of GDP growth, which is higher than the government's estimate of 1.7%.