French's consumer confidence picks up in November

French consumers were more confident of the country's economic performance in November than a month earlier as the consumer confidence index improved by 2 points, French national statistics bureau Insee said on Thursday.

The consumers' sentiment about future economy improved to minus 32 in November from minus 34 in October following an anticipated growth earlier this year.

As to personal financial situation, the consumers' appreciation improved by 2 points to 18 points from a month earlier, while the consumers still showed pessimism over saving capacity in the coming months as saving opportunities indicator deteriorated by 5 points from October.

According to the monthly economic survey, the consumers showed higher concerns over the labor market as the index rose by 2 points.

The jobless rate in metropolitan France eased to 9.3 percent in the second quarter of 2010 from 9.5 percent a quarter earlier, recording over 2.6 million jobless in the mainland.

France, Europe's second key economy, is eager to quicken growth to digest the growing demand of job seekers, and wants to accelerate economic growth to 2 percent next year from an expected 1.5 percent in 2010.

The gross domestic product is set to expand 2.5 percent by 2014, according to the state 2011 budget draft.
(Source:xinhua)