French economy slightly increased 1.6 percent in 2018

The French economy slightly increased more than previously thought last year, helping to trim the deficit, Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin announced.

“Last year, we had forecast 1.5 percent growth like all of the (economic) institutes … We should be around 1.6 percent,” Darmanin said on RTL radio.

Shortly afterwards, the INSEE official statistics agency confirmed the 2018 growth figure of 1.6 percent. Previously it had said the government cut the public deficit to a 12-year low last year of 2.5 percent of gross domestic product.

source: Reuters