The French services economy began the second quarter of 2024 in expansion territory, latest HCOB PMI® data produced by S&P Global showed, marking the first month of growth in business activity since May 2023. Higher output levels were reportedly a result of improving demand conditions, albeit primarily within the domestic market as new business from international customers contracted at a quicker rate. Business confidence remained firmly positive, while jobs growth accelerated to a nine-month high. There was also a further cooling of the rate of input cost inflation, which dropped to its weakest since August ... (full story)