PARIS (AP) The French economy is shrinking again, statistics showed Thursday, underscoring that it is still in trouble despite a rebound last quarter.
The French national statistics agency, Insee, said that gross domestic product fell 0.1 percent in the July-to-September quarter. That comes after an unexpectedly large rebound of 0.5 percent in the second quarter that pulled France out of recession. Economists had said that rebound was partially due to technical effects and that France would likely not sustain that kind of growth in the near term.
The latest figures showed that exports, which had been a big factor in France's rebound, fell sharply. Some corporate investment was also down and household spending slowed.
Last quarter, the French government hailed the growth figure as a proof that its reforms were beginning to bear fruit, although it cautioned that more time was needed. But many economists said that the rebound was artificially pumped up by such things as high energy use during a particularly cold winter and spring. They contended that France still needs to make significant changes to make its economy more competitive.
For example, economists say that France's cost of labor, even after a tax credit, is still too high. State spending also needs to be cut, so France doesn't rely so heavily on taxes to meet its deficit obligations. That leaves France in a tight spot, since it's difficult to cut spending while the economy is still floundering.
