France Consumer Spending Grows Slightly In September

French consumer spending grew less-than-expected in September, after a slump in the previous month, data released by the statistical agency INSEE revealed Wednesday. Household consumption edged up 0.1 percent month-on-month, following a 0.8 percent fall in August. Economists had forecast an increase of 0.2 percent. The modest increase of consumer spending in September was largely due to the increase of expenditure on household durables, INSEE said. Spending on durables increased 0.6 percent after a 0.8 percent fall in August. Year-on-year, spending dropped 0.3 percent in September, roughly in line with economists' expectations for a 0.2 percent decline. During the third quarter, consumer spending rose 0.2 percent sequentially, erasing a similar size decline seen in the previous three months. Car purchases rose 0.8 percent in the third quarter, following a 0.7 percent gain in the previous three months.