March Sees Modest Rise in French Industrial Production

According to INSEE, France's statistical office, industrial production in March experienced a slight increase of 0.2% compared to February. This growth was primarily fueled by significant advancements in the transport equipment manufacturing sector, which saw a remarkable 3.1% rise.

Sector-Specific Growth and Declines

The automotive sector contributed significantly to this uptick with a 3.3% boost, alongside a notable 9.6% surge in coking and refining. However, not all sectors shared in this positive trend. Capital goods manufacturing faced a 0.6% decrease, and energy production witnessed a substantial 2% decline.

Yearly Comparison Shows Overall Decline

When compared to the previous year, manufacturing output decreased by 1%, and industrial production overall saw a 0.4% reduction, highlighting some challenges in sustaining long-term growth.