2026.04.3005:30:00UTC+00French GDP Growth Slows to 1.1% in Q1 2026, Easing from 1.3% Year Earlier

France’s economic growth cooled slightly at the start of 2026, with gross domestic product expanding by 1.1% year-over-year in the first quarter, down from a revised 1.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The latest figures, updated on 30 April 2026, point to a modest loss of momentum in the French economy as the pace of expansion continues to ease on an annual basis.

The current 1.1% reading compares the first quarter of 2026 with the same quarter a year earlier, while the previous 1.3% figure measured growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 against the fourth quarter of the prior year. This deceleration suggests that, although France remains in positive growth territory, the economy is expanding at a more subdued rate than it was in late 2025.

Market participants and policymakers will be watching upcoming data for signs of whether this softer trajectory persists into the rest of 2026 or stabilizes, as the year-over-year comparisons continue to reflect how the economy is performing against last year’s levels.