French business morale was steady in November, holding close to five-year highs set earlier this year as firms' upbeat assessment of their recent output offset a poorer performance on order books, data showed today.
The business sentiment index was unchanged at 107, in line with economists' consensus forecast, after October's reading was revised down from a previously reported 108, national statistics office INSEE said. The component measuring recent output jumped to a six month high of 15 from 8 in October, while measures of order books fell.
"According to business chiefs surveyed in November 2006, industrial conditions remain favourable," INSEE said. "Despite the erosion of order books, the composite index of business climate is stabilising above its long-term average."