French GDP Beats Forecasts With 0.3% Second-Quarter Gain

France’s economy expanded by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025 from the previous three months, beating economists’ projections and the 0.1% growth recorded in the first quarter, according to preliminary data released on Wednesday. On an annual basis, gross domestic product rose 0.7%, outpacing the 0.5% consensus forecast and improving on the prior quarter’s 0.6% increase. Household consumption, a major driver of activity, climbed 0.6% in June, reversing expectations of a 0.3% decline and accelerating from May’s 0.2% gain. Finance Minister Éric Lombard said the figures show the country is “on the right track,” pointing to resilient domestic demand despite uncertainty over global trade. The stronger-than-anticipated data may ease pressure on the government as it prepares the 2026 budget and seeks to keep the recovery on course amid higher U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and a cooling euro-area outlook.