PARIS (Reuters) -France’s economy is set to maintain steady growth in the third quarter despite the re-emergence of political uncertainty, thanks to solid manufacturing activity, the central bank forecast on Tuesday.
The euro zone’s second-biggest economy was on course to grow 0.3% from the second quarter when it also grew 0.3%, the Bank of France said in its monthly economic outlook, leaving its estimate unchanged from August.
Drawing on the findings of its monthly survey of business sentiment, the central bank said manufacturing was benefiting from firm activity in the aviation and pharmaceutical industries, where France counts industry leaders like Airbus and Sanofi.
“In these sectors, business leaders report resilient external demand and (flag) their ability to capitalise on shifting trade flows,” it said.
The service sector saw more mixed fortunes, while activity was seen falling in construction and in the energy sector, the central bank said.
Executives signalled a jump in uncertainty for business prospects after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou called a vote of confidence in his government, which he lost on Monday to leave President Emmanuel Macron seeking his fifth premier in less than two years.
Uncertainty has also been fuelled by grassroots calls to disrupt airports, train stations and highways with blockades or acts of sabotage. The movement, which sprang up online and has no centralised leadership, is to hold a first day of action on Wednesday across France.
(Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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