French economy, exports edge up in Q3
The French economy grew by 0.3 percent in the third quarter of 2009, the country's central bank said in an estimate published on Thursday, after the major EU economy emerged from recession.
The figure from the Bank of France followed a slightly higher third-quarter growth forecast of 0.5 percent by the INSEE national statistics agency, which estimated a 2.2-percent contraction overall in 2009 in the worldwide downturn.
According to INSEE, France emerged from recession in the second quarter of 2009, with 0.3 percent growth in gross domestic product, after four quarters of contraction.
The bank also published on Thursday its monthly industrial confidence index, which it said strengthened slightly in September from 89 to 92 points, well up from a low point of 68 at the height of the crisis in December.
Separate figures from the French customs authorities showed the country's trade deficit -- the amount by which imports exceed exports -- fell to 3.4 billion euros (five billion dollars) in August.
This was due notably to some major exports of transport equipment such as Airbus planes.
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