French Economic Recovery Is Stuck

(Bloomberg) — French economic output is plateauing at 5% below pre-crisis levels, according to the Bank of France, adding to signs the country’s recovery from lockdown is faltering.

© Bloomberg
A pedestrian passes shuttered stores in the corridors of an antiques flea market in the 18th arrondisement of Paris, France, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. France’s daily coronavirus cases rose to the highest since the end of lockdown in May, as European infections continue a steady advance and raise the prospect of a return to the tighter restrictions that crippled activity in the second quarter.

The central bank’s monthly survey of some 8,500 companies showed little change between August and September in the level of activity in industry, services and construction. Business leaders’ comments on the outlook indicate no pickup in October either, it said.

Load Error

After a sharp rebound when the government ended confinement measures in May, the French economy has shown signs of weakness in recent weeks. A resurgence in the number of coronavirus cases and a return of partial lockdown measures in some areas are making businesses and consumers increasingly wary about the near future, surveys show.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has also expressed concern. She warned this week that the V-shaped recovery “we all longed for and hoped for” in the euro area will develop a “second arm,” and singled out France and Spain as faring particularly poorly.

French President Emmanuel Macron said late Wednesday his government will announce more restrictions on Thursday, similar to those in Marseille and Paris where bars have been shuttered.

“The expectation for stability in activity in October could partly reflect a lack of visibility among business leaders regarding their outlook. They continue to express uncertainty about the speed of the recovery in the coming months,” the Bank of France said.

Despite the flattening of the recovery in September, the central bank reiterated its forecast for a 16% rebound of gross domestic product in the third quarter. There are still significant disparities between sectors, it said. Most are nearing normal levels of activity, while automotive manufacturing, hotels, restaurants and recreational activities are still significantly affected by the crisis.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.