Not To Pick on France or Anything, BUT…

December 16, 2013
By Knowledge Leaders Team in Uncategorized

Important survey data out of Europe today points to a growing disparity between the region’s two largest economies.  While the Eurozone and Germany both surpassed consensus estimates, France’s flash PMI came in at a disappointing 47.1 (versus expectations for a small rise to 49.1 from last month’s 48.4):

image
Meanwhile, business confidence has stalled…
image
Consumer confidence isn’t showing much life…
image
Unemployment continues to climb…
image
While labor cost increases have dramatically outpaced those of Germany over the last two decades…
image
Industrial production remains well below pre-recession levels…
image
Exports are falling in the face of a rising euro…
image
image
Debt as a percent of GDP shows no sign of slowing…
image
And the CAC lags both the German and Swiss exchanges year to date– not to mention stock markets in the GIPSIs…
image
But, hey– inflation doesn’t appear to be much of a problem these days!
image
Print Friendly, PDF & Email