FX.co ★ French Economy Returns to Growth as Q2 GDP Rises 0.2%

France’s economy moved back into positive territory in the second quarter of 2026, with gross domestic product (GDP) rising 0.2% quarter-over-quarter, according to data updated on 30 July 2026.

The improvement marks a clear turnaround from the first quarter of 2026, when GDP contracted by 0.1% compared with the previous quarter. The latest figure shows that, on a quarter-over-quarter basis, economic activity has shifted from mild decline to modest expansion.

Under the comparison framework, the “actual” reading reflects the change from the first to the second quarter of 2026, while the “previous” figure of -0.1% captured the change from the final quarter of the prior year to the first quarter of 2026. The move from negative to positive growth suggests that France has regained some economic momentum as mid-2026 approaches.