Stimulus boost for confidence in France and Germany

Business confidence is slowly building in Germany and France with French Finance Minister expecting their economy to rebound to pre-covid levels by 2022

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire. Picture: Ian Langsdon, Pool via AP

Surveys showed consumer and business confidence in France and Germany growing as coronavirus lockdowns are eased, bolstered by generous stimulus packages and declining infection numbers in Europe.

A temporary cut in Vat in Germany, which will cost the government up to €20bn, helped push up consumer morale there more than expected heading into August, the latest data showed.