FX.co ★ French Manufacturing Momentum Builds as HCOB PMI Rises to 52.8 in April

France’s manufacturing sector showed a solid acceleration in April, as the HCOB France Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 52.8, up from 50.0 in March 2026.

The March reading, recorded at the neutral 50.0 threshold, had indicated a sector on the cusp between contraction and expansion. The latest April figure, released with data updated on 23 April 2026, now places the index firmly in expansionary territory, signalling a broad-based improvement in operating conditions for French manufacturers.

This gain in the PMI suggests stronger underlying momentum in France’s industrial base, with the move away from the stagnation point likely to be welcomed by investors and policymakers watching for signs of sustained growth in the euro area’s second-largest economy.