France’s Economy Flatlines Amid Export Slump, Weak Spending

A sharp drop in exports weighed on France’s economy, with overseas sales falling 3.8 percent in the first quarter.

Tourists and pedestrians walk on the Iena Bridge near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Aug. 16, 2025. Martin Lelievre/AFP/Getty Images

France’s economy flattened in the first three months of 2026, amid falling exports, weaker household spending, and a slowdown in construction.

French statistics agency INSEE reported on May 29 that gross domestic product (GDP) stalled in the first quarter, following growth of 0.2 percent in the final quarter of 2025.