ZCZC
BCN-32
FRANCE-ECONOMY-GROWTH-INDICATOR
French 2018 growth slows to 1.5%, hit by ‘yellow vest’ protests
PARIS, Jan 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – French economic growth slowed to 1.5
percent last year from 2.3 percent in 2017, hit by weaker consumer demand
amid the turmoil of end-year “yellow vest” protests, official figures showed
Wednesday.
The official INSEE statistics office said consumer spending was unchanged
in the last three months of 2018, compared with a rise of 0.4 percent in the
third quarter, as the protests against increased taxes and falling living
standards caused widespread disruption.
External trade provided support for the economy in the fourth quarter,
along with goods and services but investment was weak, INSEE said.
Exports rose 3.1 percent last year, compared with a gain of 4.7 percent in
2017, while imports were up 1.1 percent after a rise of 4.1 percent.
BSS/AFP/HR/1340