The French economy posted zero growth in the first quarter of this year following a weak 0.1% expansion in the fourth quarter of 2011.
This is according to the INSEE national statistics institute. The figure confirmed an earlier estimate.
INSEE had forecast earlier this week that the French economy would grow only 0.4% in 2012, slightly less than the 0.5% previously forecast and budgeted by the government.
"France will suffer from a contraction in internal demand from its euro zone partners, which will hurt exports, and its efforts to consolidate its budget," INSEE's research director Eric Dubois had said.
"France will suffer from a contraction in internal demand from its euro zone partners, which will hurt exports, and its efforts to consolidate its budget," INSEE's research director Eric Dubois had said.
