French Services Activity Rebounds as HCOB PMI Climbs Toward Growth in July

France’s services sector showed a marked improvement in July 2026, with the HCOB France Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 49.8, up from 46.8 in June 2026.

The three-point jump brings the index to the threshold of the 50-point mark that separates contraction from expansion, signaling that the downturn in French services activity has substantially eased. While the sector remains marginally in contraction territory, the latest reading suggests that conditions have stabilised compared with June’s weaker performance.

The updated data, released on 24 July 2026, will be closely watched by investors and policymakers as a potential sign that momentum in France’s domestic services economy is starting to recover after a softer patch earlier in the year.