The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for France increased 0.1 percent in October to 118.4 (2004 = 100), following a 0.2 percent increase in September, and no change in August.
At the same time, The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) for France, a measure of current economic activity, was unchanged in October, remaining at 103.6 (2004 = 100), following a 0.1 percent decline in September, and no change in August.
The LEI increased two months in a row. However, its six-month growth rate, while still positive, has slowed considerably compared to earlier this year. Meanwhile, the CEI has been relatively unchanged for the past two years, and its six-month growth rate remains flat in recent months. Taken together, the recent behavior of the composite indexes suggests that economic activity will likely continue expanding at a moderate pace into early 2015.