France posts stronger private consumption but investment still declining

With 0.6% q/q, French GDP came in above expectations (0.4%). However, numbers for Q3 and Q4 2014 were revised down.

In Q1, GDP was driven by final domestic demand (+0.5%). Private consumption accelerated on the back of lower energy prices.
The scary thing about the French economy is still the lack of investment and the resulting lack of job creation. The reasons for that are manifold and not easy to cure. The change in inventories contributed to growth too and may weigh on growth in Q2.
For the current quarter, Nordea Research expects GDP growth at 0.3% q/q which is in line with the estimate of Banque de France. Full-year growth will probably be around 1%.