French manufacturing expanded in February, beating flash forecast, PMI shows

By Sudip Kar-Gupta

PARIS, ‌March 2 (Reuters) - ​France's ​manufacturing sector expanded in February, slightly beating initial estimates, helped by solid ‌demand in the cars and aerospace ⁠sectors, S&P Global reported on Monday.

The HCOB final France ‌Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) ‌for February slipped to 50.1 points from a 43-month high of 51.2 in January.

Nevertheless, ​it remained above the 50.0 points level indicating growth, and the final February ⁠manufacturing PMI beat the flash PMI reading of 49.9 points.

S&P ​Global said foreign orders in the manufacturing sector had fallen, although factory output ​had increased and manufacturing ‌companies had a more confident outlook.

"As long as incoming orders in France's ⁠manufacturing sector remain in decline, it is premature to declare the downturn in the sector as ⁠over. That said, the index for order books is ​only marginally below the expansion threshold, and significantly better than the average level recorded from 2023 to ‌2025," said Hamburg Commercial Bank AG junior economist Jonas Feldhusen.

"Confidence among ‌manufacturers appears to be improving. This is ⁠partly driven by expectations ‌of rising demand ​from the public sector," he added.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Toby ‌Chopra)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Tropical Storm Bertha moves inland near Texas-Louisiana border, NHC says
• Beleagured Turkish opposition attempts to regroup with new party
• Women in Sudan's al-Obeid face drone attacks and rape when fetching water, UN says