The French economy rebounded in the second quarter, with an increase of 0.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) is a little better than expected, over a period marked both by the third confinement and the gradual lifting of restrictions, according to a first estimate from INSEE on Friday July 30.
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As a reminder, the GDP had contracted by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2021. At the time, consumption was restrained by the curfew, the closure of large shopping centers, restaurants, bars and restaurants. cultural places.
A rebound in activity in the second quarter was expected, in a context of lifting of health restrictions from mid-May, in particular the reopening of terraces, bars and restaurants and more generally of all shops.
Despite the epidemic recovery linked to the Delta variant since the beginning of the summer, Bercy thus raised its growth forecast for the year 2021 from 5 to 6% in mid-July, while the Banque de France expects 5.75%.
The IMF, for its part, left its forecast unchanged at 5.8%.
