By Joshua Kirby
The French economy grew at a more sluggish pace in the third quarter, as expected, amid lower exports.
Gross domestic product rose by 0.1% between July and September, slowing from an upwardly revised 0.6% growth booked in the previous quarter, according to data set out Tuesday by national statistics agency Insee. This was in line with economists’ expectations for growth in the eurozone’s second biggest economy, according to a Wall Street Journal poll of economists ahead of the release.
Exports, which had boosted net trade and GDP in the second quarter, reversed path and slid 1.4% in the quarter, the data showed. Domestic demand on the other hand picked up pace, thanks both to household consumption and investment, Insee said.
Compared with the same quarter last year, the French economy rose 0.7%, also slowing from 1.1% the previous quarter.
Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby
