France's industrial production fell unexpectedly and its trade deficit widened in January, according to data released today.
Industrial output fell 0.3 per cent from the previous month, bucking the consensus forecast for a 0.1 per cent rise, national statistics office INSEE said. It also revised down December's monthly rise to 1.0 per cent from 1.1 per cent previously.
Separate Customs Office data showed the trade deficit widened to €2.76 billion from a revised €2.6 billion shortfall in December. Economists had expected the trade deficit to narrow to €2.6 billion.
While consumer spending has remained robust at the start of 2007, the latest figures on the health of industrial production and trade suggest that the same factors that crimped growth in 2006 could be braking expansion at the start of this year.