French Economy Outpaces Forecasts Amid Olympic Surge

France's economy exceeded expectations with a 0.4% growth in Q3 2024, attributed to the Paris Olympics' positive impact. Initial estimates predicted 0.3% growth. The influx of tourists for the Games enhanced consumer spending, leading to a 0.5% increase, marking a recovery after stagnation last quarter.

France's economy beat expectations, growing by 0.4% in the third quarter of 2024, driven by the Paris Olympics, according to preliminary figures from statistics agency INSEE released on Wednesday.

Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast a 0.3% growth in GDP for the quarter.

The surge in tourist numbers attending the Games boosted consumer expenditure in the eurozone's second-largest economy, resulting in a 0.5% growth after a stagnant second quarter.