FX.co ★ French Private Sector Acitvity Rebounds in September

The S&P Global France Composite PMI climbed to 51.1 in September 2026 from 48.5 in August, although it was revised slightly down from the preliminary estimate of 51.2. This reading signalled a return to growth in private-sector activity after eight consecutive months of contraction, driven mainly by a rebound in services. The services PMI rose to 51.2 from 48.0 in August, marking the sector’s first expansion since December. In contrast, growth in manufacturing weakened, with the PMI edging down to 50.6 from 51.1. Overall output continued to rise despite subdued demand and only modest employment gains. New orders and staffing levels both registered slight declines over the month, while business expectations eased, reflecting softer sentiment among services firms. At the same time, price pressures intensified, fuelled by persistently high global oil and gas prices.