Key figures for the French economy compared with those of the main European countries, analysis of data on the population and the French labour market, activity by sector, publication administration figures, inflation, credit and interest rates, corporate and household accounts.
GDP growth, inflation, exchange and interest rates.
While recent economic data across the board suggest that growth was strong in Q2, leading indicators (business climate, household confidence) were more mixed in June, pointing to a more difficult Q3. This is particularly the case in the US, where even the ISM non-manufacturing index deteriorated sharply in June, while in Japan and the UK, growth should return to a more normal level after a very favourable Q2 (and benefiting from rebound effects in Japan, after a more difficult Q1).
The difficulties in the Eurozone manufacturing sector are intensifying. Industrial production fell again in May, by -0.6% m/m (-0.8% m/m for the manufacturing index). The deterioration in the PMI indicators for the euro area in June does not bode well for Q3, with a fall in the manufacturing index (-1.5 points to 45.8) and a decline in all the subcomponents (production, employment, new orders, stocks of purchases, delivery times). The input price index (which is not included in the calculation of the aggregate manufacturing index) is back above the expansion zone for the first time since February 2023. This is consistent with the trend in producer prices, for which the monthly decline has been slowing for several months and is now close to zero
The French economy is once again feeling the weight of economic uncertainty, as shown by the rebound in the Banque de France's uncertainty indicator, which in July reached its highest level since autumn 2022 (energy crisis). This could weaken a business climate that is already a little less favourable in France (composite PMI at 48.8 in June) than in the eurozone (PMI above 50 for the past four months).
Italian inflation stabilised below the 1% mark in June (at 0.9% y/y) due to the still significant deflation in the energy component (-8.6% y/y), and the slowdown in food prices (2.1% y/y in May; -1.8 pp over three months). Although the producer price index is still negative year-on-year (-3.5% in May), it is beginning to strengthen on a monthly basis (+0.3% m/m), suggesting that the disinflationary phase in consumer prices could be reversed over the coming months.
Expectations in terms of growth for Q2 remain favourable: we expect it to be +0.6% q/q compared to +0.5% q/q for the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow. However, several elements suggest a more difficult Q3. The ISM surveys in June returned a negative signal: mixed for the manufacturing component, which deteriorated marginally, to 48.5 (-0.2 points), against a backdrop of falling production (48.5, -1.7 points), more marked for the non-manufacturing index, which fell to 48.8 (-5.0 points), against a backdrop of a correction in activity (49.6, -11.6 points), and a deterioration in new orders (47.3, -6.8 points). The NFIB (Small Business Optimism Index) again rose only slightly in June (91.5, +1
The rise in activity is welcome news for the recently elected Labour Party. According to the ONS, the monthly figures for real GDP (or, to be more precise, real value added) show that UK activity rose by 0.4% m/m in May, following a levelling-off in April. Although the manufacturing sector (+0.4% m/m) and construction (+1.9% m/m) were more supportive of growth than services (+0.3% m/m) in May, it is the latter that have been driving activity over the past year, with a rebound in transport and logistics (+7.3% y/y) and a clear acceleration in ‘professional, scientific and technical’ activities (+4.1% y/y).
Japan's economic growth should benefit from a technical upturn in Q2: we expect growth of 0.5% q/q after the contraction in Q1 (revised downwards to -0.7% q/q). The outlook remains negative – particularly for demand, despite the tax cuts introduced in June – while household consumption spending contracted by -1.8% y/y in May. Furthermore, while wage increases (excluding bonuses) reached their highest level since 1993 in May (+2.5% y/y), a sign of the growing transmission of negotiated wage increases (+5.1% y/y according to the Rengo trade union), real incomes are still not rising (-1.4% y/y).
The Moroccan economy has held up well against the consecutive shocks of recent years. The GDP losses resulting from the Covid crisis were quickly recovered and the 2023 inflationary shock has passed. With inflation dipping below 1% since the beginning of the year, compared to its peak of 10% at the start of 2023, it is no longer a source of major concern. In June, the Bank of Morocco decided to ease its monetary policy. The solid external accounts and the ongoing consolidation of public finances have also reassured the monetary authorities in their decision-making.
Poland’s economy has generally shown resilience during periods of turbulence since the financial crisis of 2008-2009. For instance, in 2009, the country was able to avoid a recession in contrast to neighbouring countries. Since 2020, successive shocks have constrained GDP growth momentum, but strong fiscal buffers enabled the authorities to implement generous supportive measures. The country remains amongst the best performing economies in the region in the early months of 2024, with its GDP above 11% in Q12024 compared to its pre-COVID levels. Overall, the country reinforced its position in Europe, judging from the increase of Poland’s economic weight in the EU (measured by GDP in purchasing power parity) and gains in market share
GDP growth, inflation, interest and exchange rates.
Having a good understanding of a central bank’s reaction function is important. It influences inflation and interest rate expectations, the level of bond yields, investor risk appetite and economic confidence in general. In the US, different types of information help to improve our understanding of the Federal Reserve’s reaction function: monetary policy rules -which play a prominent role in the material prepared by the Fed staff for the FOMC meetings-, the relationship between inflation, growth, unemployment and the federal funds rate in the Summary of Economic Projections of FOMC members as well as speeches and press conferences
Since a 1977 act, the dual mandate of the Federal Reserve (Fed) has de jure entrusted it with the objectives of maximum employment and price stability (the latter being expected to favour the former in the long term). However, these objectives can come into conflict and, as has been the case since March 2022, the Fed may have to give clear priority to reducing inflation at the risk of damaging employment and output. This refers to the concept of sacrifice ratio or trade-off, i.e. the expected cumulative deterioration of the latter to help bring inflation back to its target (2%).
Our central scenario of a Eurozone take-off and a US soft landing, confirmed by the latest available indicators, is characterised by an expected convergence in growth rates. This base case could, however, be impacted by political uncertainties on both sides of the Atlantic (uncertain outcomes of the early parliamentary elections in France and the US presidential election). Furthermore, while the ECB began its easing cycle in June, as expected, providing timely support for growth, the Fed is still holding back. This extension of the status quo, even if it seems justified for the time being, constitutes another downside risk. However, growth is benefiting from other supportive and resilient factors, chief among them real wage gains
The first cut in policy rates by the European Central Bank on 6 June came as no surprise, as the committee members had largely prepared the ground ahead of the decision. The timing and scale of future easing is more uncertain, given the continuing strong pressure on wages, high inflation in services, and the resurgence of tensions in global shipping. We expect two further interest rate cuts in 2024, at a pace of one per quarter (September and December).
German growth is expected to be supported, in the short term, by the upturn in the country's industry, which should offset some of the loss of production associated with the rise in the cost of energy following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. As an open economy, Germany is also expected to benefit from the rebound in growth in the eurozone since the beginning of 2024. However, in the longer term, German growth potential is likely to continue to suffer from labour shortages, from the weight of its industry (weakened by the low-carbon transition), and also from the consequences of insufficient investment against a backdrop of a surge in new competitors.
The French economy is characterised by growth, a statement that is all the clearer following the changeover of the national accounts to the 2020 base and the publication of the 2023 annual accounts, which led INSEE to raise its 2023 GDP estimate by almost EUR 20 billion. However, there are winners and losers from this growth. In 2024, it should be sustained mainly by market services, which account for the bulk of job creation and growth in demand. However, this growth in services substitutes that for goods, while inflation and interest rate shocks continue to weigh on investment.
In Q1 2024, the Italian economy slightly accelerated. Real GDP rose by 0.3%, with a mixed evolution by sector. Valued added of construction rose, while that of manufacturing declined, suffering from the slowdown of exports. Services increased moderately, benefitting from the recovery of tourism. Domestic demand contributed positively to the overall growth and households profited from the improvement of labour market conditions. Economic and financial conditions of firms further improved. In Italy, in the first five months of 2024, on average, the consumer price index increased by less than 1% y/y per month.
The Dutch economy was confronted with a new decline of its GDP in the first quarter of 2024, due to an unexpected drop in exports. The future does not look too gloomy though, since a new coalition was formed and presented friendly purchasing power measures that are likely to support private consumption. The agreement however plans to limit the budget deficit to 2.8% of GDP through spending cuts which could deteriorate the country’s productivity in the longer run.
Belgian economic growth remains close to trend rates, even as a shift in the underlying drivers is taking place. Corporate investment rebounded from last quarter’s one-off dip. More encouraging is the bottoming-out of household investment in dwellings. Real estate prices have remained on an upward trend throughout the ECB’s now ended hiking cycle and the depressed activity levels are expected to slowly recover. Public finances remain a challenge, as the spectre of prolonged government formation talks once again casts a shadow over the Belgian economy.
After being in recession in 2023 (-0.8% on an annual average), due to falling investment, high inflation and the decline in real wages, Austrian growth is expected to remain weak this year (+0.3% according to the European Commission). In Q1, real GDP grew by just 0.2% q/q, still dragged down by the decline in investment (-4.7% q/q, contributing -1.1 pp to growth), but nevertheless pulled up by the rebound in private consumption (+0.8% q/q, contributing +0.4 pp), itself supported by the return of real wage increases and the resilience of the labour market.
The Greek economy is proving resilient to rising funding costs and geopolitical tensions in Europe. The country is expected to post economic growth once again above the eurozone average in 2024. Real GDP grew by 2.0% in 2023 as an annual average and by 0.7% q/q in Q1 2024, driven by private consumption and investment. Except in real estate, inflationary pressures have eased and fuelled purchasing power gains which, with rising employment, are supporting private consumption, the weight of which in GDP reached a new record in Q1 2024 (76.9%). Because of its size and dependence on the external market, the country nevertheless remains very exposed to economic developments in Europe as well as to the energy market, and oil in particular.
