French Economy to Continue Growth in 2018 Despite U.S. 'Uncertainties'

The French economy will continue to grow at a relatively steady clip in the beginning of 2018, but "political uncertainties" in the U.S. remain a wildcard, French statistics body Insee said Tuesday in its economic outlook.

After posting 1.9% growth in 2017, growing business optimism will push quarter-to-quarter growth to 0.5% in the beginning of 2018, and then 0.4% in the spring, Insee said. Unemployment should also continue to fall to 9.4% mid 2018, down about 0.1% year-on-year.

The agency also said that foreign trade will stop weighing on growth by the middle of next year, driven by agricultural exports and rising tourism.

Write to Sam Schechner at sam.schechner@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 19, 2017 13:12 ET (18:12 GMT)