23.04.202607:40:28UTC+00France Services PMI Worsens to 14-Month Low

The S&P Global France Services PMI fell to 46.5 in April 2026 from 48.8 in March, undershooting market expectations of 48.4, according to flash estimates. This marks a fourth consecutive month in contraction territory and the sharpest decline since February 2025, underscoring weakening consumer demand as households become more cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainty. On the price front, service providers are contending with rising transportation costs, driven by prolonged tensions in the Middle East that have disrupted global supply chains and kept energy prices elevated. By contrast, output prices have remained relatively stable since the outbreak of the conflict, a trend likely to be welcomed by policymakers at the European Central Bank. Finally, business confidence deteriorated over the latest survey period, slipping to its joint-lowest level since July 2025, as heightened uncertainty and concerns over increasing customer caution continued to weigh on sentiment.