French Manufacturing Sector Continues To Expand

(RTTNews) - The performance of the French manufacturing sector remained robust in December, Markit Economics said Monday.

The headline Purchasing Managers' Index, a seasonally adjusted index designed to measure the performance of the manufacturing economy, showed a reading of 57.2, which was marginally below November's ten-year high of 57.9. But it stayed above the initial flash estimate of 56.3.

"The French manufacturing sector provided some festive cheer in December, as output continued to rise strongly despite disruption caused by the poor weather," Jack Kennedy, economist at Markit said. Firms benefited from rising international demand for French goods.