The French economy experienced a strong recovery in the third quarter. Economists in general did not expect such a strong upturn. However, many connoisseurs remain pessimistic as new lockdown measures are now creating new economic problems.
Compared with the second quarter, the French economy rose by 18.2% in July, August and september, according to preliminary figures from the French statistical office. A period earlier, under pressure from the first lockdown, the economy collapsed by a revised 13.7 percent. Economists had actually counted on a plus of 15 percent for the third quarter.
Moreover, the recovery was not so strong last quarter that the French economy was already above its level a year earlier. Gross domestic product (GDP) was still 4.3% less than a year earlier. Experts had expected a reduction of 7.3 percent on an annual basis.
