French Services Output Rises 0.2 Percent in July While Trade Sales Volumes Slip 0.1 Percent
Output in French services rose 0.2 percent in July after a 0.3 percent rise in June, while the volume of sales across trade was close to flat at a fall of 0.1 percent after a 0.3 percent rise, the national statistics institute reported on 22 September. Both readings are seasonally and working day adjusted with 2021 as the reference year.
Arts and information carried services
Output rose strongly in arts, entertainment and recreation, up 4.1 percent after 0.9 percent, and rebounded in information and communication, up 1.2 percent after a fall of 1.0 percent. Accommodation and food rose 0.7 percent and administrative and support services 0.7 percent. Against that, professional, scientific and technical activities fell 1.0 percent after a 1.0 percent rise, transport and storage fell 1.0 percent after a 3.0 percent rise, and real estate activities fell 0.7 percent. The June services figure was revised up by 0.1 point.
| Series | July, month on month | Three months to July, year on year |
|---|---|---|
| Services output | +0.2% | +0.8% |
| Trade sales volume | -0.1% | +1.1% |
| Retail trade | +0.8% | +2.8% |
| Wholesale trade | -0.4% | -0.1% |
| Vehicle trade and repair | -0.9% | +1.8% |
National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, Informations Rapides No 225 and No 226, 22 September 2026.
Retail held up, wholesale and cars did not
Retail sales volumes excluding vehicles accelerated to a rise of 0.8 percent, with specialised stores up 1.0 percent and non specialised stores rebounding 0.7 percent, and within specialised stores the other retail group, which covers pharmacies, clothing and footwear, rose 2.0 percent, while sales outside stores fell 0.4 percent. Wholesale excluding vehicles fell 0.4 percent, with information and communication equipment the exception at a rise of 5.2 percent. Trade and repair of motor vehicles fell 0.9 percent. Over the three months to July, retail volumes were 2.8 percent higher than a year earlier while wholesale was broadly flat.
Why it matters: the two releases point the same way, services output still edging higher with household facing trade holding up better than business facing wholesale. The split between retail at 2.8 percent and wholesale at minus 0.1 percent over a year is the clearest signal in the two releases.
Outlook: both series are next updated on 21 October with August figures. The question for the third quarter is whether the July softness in professional services and transport, which followed strong June readings, was timing rather than a turn.
Sources: National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.
