You have commented 338 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Europe
French growth disappoints in 2005
2006-02-10
Among other things.
France's economic growth slowed in the final three months of 2005, pulling the country's full-year performance down below the government's forecasts. Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.2% in the fourth quarter, down from 0.7% in the previous three months, according to statistical office Insee.

For the year, GDP grew by 1.4%, compared with 2.1% in 2004.

Separate reports showed France's trade deficit tripled in 2005, and industrial production declined in December.

The figures are likely to cause concern as the government has made boosting growth one of its main priorities. Analysts said that a number of factors, including record oil prices, civil unrest and a lack of reforms, have limited the country's efforts to boost growth and significantly cut its unemployment rate from the current 9.5% level.

A main cause of the slowdown in economicgrowth was a drop in car production, said Finance Minister Thierry Breton
Strange, there's such demand for new cars with the old ones being car-be-qued ...
The government had been expecting annual economic growth figures of between 1.5% and 2%, and quarterly expansion of between 0.5% and 0.6%. Industrial production has continued to suffer - and Insee said that output contracted by 0.3% in December from November. "The most disappointing is industrial production," said Jean-Louis Mourier, and ecnomist at Aurel Leven. "It's very erratic. Overall, we're seeing an industrial production that is very weak."

"This explains the disappointment on GDP growth," he added.

The trade shortfall was 26.46bn euros in 2005, more than three times the 8.284bn euros in 2004. Exports have been increasing, but at a far slower rate than imports. In December, exports were 31.3bn euros, compared with 30.34bn a month earlier. However, imports totaled 34.41bn euros from 33.4bn in November.
Posted by:Steve White

#7  Obviously this calls for more EU regulations and French social programs to finish the job compensate.
Posted by: .com   2006-02-10 19:41  

#6  "French growth disappoints in 2005"

And 2004, and 2003, and 2002, and 2001, and 2000, and 1999, and ....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2006-02-10 19:38  

#5  Losers
Posted by: DMFD   2006-02-10 19:07  

#4  Strange, there's such demand for new cars with the old ones being car-be-qued ...

It is a funny remark. Unfortunately, most of the car cars burned belonged to lower-income people. If it were to happen to the other end of the income scale, I suspect demand for new cars (and property in Belgium) would sky-rocket.
Posted by: Fordesque   2006-02-10 19:06  

#3  Viagra
Posted by: Captain America   2006-02-10 14:37  

#2  LOL, you would think by reading the MSM that the U.S. had economic numbers like that.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-02-10 13:08  

#1  And those 35 hour work weeks aren't helping...
Posted by: mmurray821   2006-02-10 12:56  

00:00