Overview
- INSEE’s first estimate shows GDP was flat in the first quarter, halting the late‑2025 pickup.
- Household spending slipped and shaved 0.1 percentage point from growth, reflecting softer domestic demand.
- Foreign trade dragged growth by 0.7 points as exports fell sharply, according to the statistics agency.
- Consumer prices rose 2.2% year over year in April, driven by a 14.2% surge in energy costs after the Middle East war lifted oil prices.
- The government now projects 0.9% growth for 2026, and Finance Minister Roland Lescure has described the expected impact as very moderate.