France’s economy registered its third straight monthly decline in private sector output at the start of 2023, reflecting a further drop in goods production and a sustained weakening across the service sector. That said, the overall rate of contraction was only marginal, as was the case in the prior two months, suggesting that France’s economic downturn remains modest in nature thus far. The latest ‘flash’ survey results for January showed a sixth successive monthly fall in private sector new business, leading backlogs of work to decline. Nevertheless, employment growth strengthened to a three-month high and business ... (full story)