Business · Economy · 1 hr ago
IMF forecasts French growth to slow to 0.4% in 2026
The International Monetary Fund forecasts that France’s economy will grow by just 0.4% in 2026.
That is down from 0.9% growth in 2025 and is among the weakest forecasts for the euro area.
The IMF expects growth to pick up to 0.7% in 2027.
France’s national statistics office has pointed to heatwaves, rising unemployment, higher energy prices and large public deficits as factors weighing on growth.
The IMF also warns that repeated borrowing after successive shocks has pushed up France’s debt.
Political difficulties are making it harder for the finance ministry to improve the country’s finances.
The forecast suggests France will lag behind the euro area and the world economy in 2026.
The International Monetary Fund forecasts that France’s economy will grow by 0.4% in 2026.
That would be down from 0.9% growth in 2025, before growth rises to 0.7% in 2027.
France’s projected 2026 growth is below the eurozone forecast of 1.1% and the global forecast of 3.1%.
The IMF forecasts were published on October 13.
Le Monde cited heatwaves, rising unemployment, higher energy prices and public deficits among pressures on the French economy.
- Who
- The International Monetary Fund.
- What
- It forecasts French GDP growth of 0.4% in 2026, down from 0.9% in 2025.
- When
- The forecasts were published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- The IMF forecasts do not explain the causes of the slowdown. Le Monde reports that heatwaves, rising unemployment, higher energy prices and public deficits have weighed on growth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
France’s national statistics institute highlighted the effects of heatwaves, rising unemployment, higher energy prices and public deficits.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva discussed France’s debt and political difficulties in an interview with CNBC.
The IMF published forecasts of 0.4% growth for France in 2026 and 0.7% in 2027.
- France GDP growth forecast, 2026
- 0.4%
- France GDP growth, 2025
- 0.9%
- France GDP growth forecast, 2027
- 0.7%
- Eurozone growth forecast, 2026
- 1.1%
- Global growth forecast, 2026
- 3.1%
What people are saying
What we observe in France are first the difficulties linked to the consequences of repeated borrowing after one shock after another, which makes debt rise like a staircase, and we know that does not lead to paradise. On the other hand, the political situation makes it harder for the finance ministry to get things back on track.
Sources
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