France: Business confidence falls in March
In March, the French Statistical Institute’s (INSEE) business climate indicator for the manufacturing sector fell to 98 in March from 101 in February. As a result, the indicator slid below the 100-threshold, its long-term average.
Manufacturers general production expectations plummeted in March, as well as over their overall order books. In addition, surveyed firms reported falling expectations on their workforce size. Meanwhile, their expectations of past activity improved, while perceptions of finished-goods inventories remained unchanged.