French industrial output rises 1%

Paris: French industrial output advanced in January for a third month as the global economic recovery helped fuel demand for exports.

Output from France’s factories, mines and utilities increased 1.0% from the previous month, when it gained a revised 0.2%, statistics office Insee said. Economists had forecast a 0.5% gain.

With the government cutting spending and unemployment the highest in seven years, French companies are looking abroad for sales growth. Manufacturing exports climbed 1.5% in January, lifted by demand for metals and industrial machines, France’s customs office said earlier this week.