France: Business sentiment stable in January

According to the INSSE business climate survey, the business confidence indicator remained stable in January at December’s 112 points, which had marked a three-month high. Thus, the indicator remains slightly above the long-term 110-point average, which is the benchmark measure the INSEE uses to distinguish between improving and worsening business expectations.

According to the INSEE, the result came on the back of improvements in businesses’ assessment regarding their personal and general production expectations, which offset a fall in past activity and inventories.

Met the why particular Consensus Forecast panelists see fixed investment contracting 0.5% in 2016, which is unchanged over the previous month’s estimate. For 2017, the panel sees investment expanding 1.9%.