AI Data Insight
France's flash composite PMI for the third quarter (September) of 2026 surged significantly to 51.2 from the previous 48.8, outperforming market expectations of 48.7 and hitting a 25-month high. This rebound was primarily driven by a strong recovery in the services sector, which offset the impact of a slight slowdown in manufacturing. Despite the impressive data, analysts warned that new order growth is limited, and the sustainability of the overall expansion remains to be seen.