Economic Slowdown in France

In a surprising turn of events, France's gross domestic product (GDP) experienced a slight decline of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024, as reported by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE). This downturn follows a modest growth of 0.4% in the previous quarter, signaling potential challenges ahead for the French economy.

Consumption and Trade Dynamics

The consumption of services saw a decrease of 0.1%, whereas the consumption of goods saw a marginal increase of 0.2% during the same period. On the trade front, exports and imports both grew by 0.4%. However, the impact of foreign trade on GDP growth was neutral, as highlighted by INSEE.