French third-quarter growth seen at 0.1%, central bank says

France’s third-quarter growth was almost flat at 0.1%, according to the Banque de France, which said services offset weakness across manufacturing, construction and agriculture. In its monthly outlook, the central bank kept its estimate unchanged from the prior month, noting the euro zone’s second-largest economy eked out only minimal expansion versus stagnation in the second quarter. A survey of executives at 8,500 firms showed manufacturing rising in September, but less than expected, while demand stayed solid in aerospace and electrical equipment tied to data-center building. Construction barely grew and order books remain thin, especially for single-family homes. Rising industrial input costs were only partly passed on, cash positions deteriorated, and uncertainty increased as some firms postponed projects. INSEE will publish the preliminary GDP reading on Oct. 30.