France's economy grew by 0.3% in the third quarter, official statistics published today have shown, as the euro zone's second largest economy battles to exit a prolonged slump.
French gross domestic product expanded 0.3%, according to a preliminary estimate by the INSEE agency, following zero growth in the first quarter and a contraction of 0.1% in the second quarter.
INSEE revised down its second quarter figures, having previously said the economy had flatlined.
France's Finance Minister Michel Sapin said the data confirmed the government's forecast of 0.4% growth for the full year.
"Economic activity has picked up slightly but remains too weak to ensure the job creation our country needs," Sapin said in a statement.
Even France's own economy minister, Emmanuel Macron, has said that the economy is "sick", as the deeply unpopular government of President Francois Hollande battles high unemployment and sluggish output.
The government, as well as the International Monetary Fund and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, forecast growth of 0.4% this year, expanding to 1% in 2015.
In comparison, the IMF sees the wider euro zone growing 0.8% this year and 1.3% in 2015.
The euro zone is largely being held up by economic powerhouse Germany, with estimates saying its GDP will grow by 1.4% and 1.5% in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Hollande's plan to get France out of the morass is his much-vaunted Responsibility Pact, which revolves around a package of tax cuts for business worth €40bn, in exchange for a pledge to create 500,000 jobs.
However, Hollande also has to keep a close eye on the country's deficit, which is set to bust EU limits until 2017.
He has therefore also proposed a series of spending cuts worth some €50bn over three years.
