Leading Economic Index For France Rises

ByJohn S. McClenahen France, in fact, does appear to be growing economically again. The Conference Board's leading economic index for France rose 0.1% in September to 101.5 (1990=100), the New York-based business research group reported this week. Although the leading index for France has not shown any dramatic increase so far this year, its "slight increase" stands in contrast to "the significant decline that occurred in the second half of 2002," notes the Conference Board. "The improvement in the leading index since early this year is signaling a mild upturn in real GDP in the second half of 2003, following slight declines [during each of] the previous three quarters (a 0.6% average annual rate)."