FX.co ★ French Construction Sector Downturn Eases Slightly

The HCOB Construction PMI for France rose slightly to 43.9 in February 2026, up from 43.5 in January. While this signaled that the construction sector was still in contraction, the pace of decline was the slowest in six months. The downturn in both commercial and residential building eased, helping to partially offset a steeper fall in civil engineering activity. However, new orders continued to decline at a solid rate amid sluggish market conditions and generally weak demand, prompting further cutbacks in material purchases and employment.