In 2016, the value added in mainly commercial non-agricultural and non-financial sectors amounted to €1,029 billion, or 52% of the value added by the whole of the French economy. It rose by 2.5%, after a 2.4% increase in 2015. However, after bouncing back in 2015, the companies’ economic indicators remained stable or up only slightly in 2016, as was the case for the margin rate (up 0.3 points). The sustained growth in value added and reductions in employers’ contributions merely offset wage increases, which rose faster than productivity gains.

In 2016, only industry margin rate saw a marked increase (up 1.6 points) although the momentum was weaker than the previous year (when it was up 2.2 points). The investment rate is rising rather slowly. However, as was the case in 2015, net growth in investment has been sustained, most notably by the over-amortization mechanism introduced in April 2015.
Exports remained stable as the big multinationals have been severely affected by the slowdown in world trade. Corporate demographic indicators remained healthy in 2016 and 2017: the number of new businesses was at its highest level since 2010 while insolvencies were at their lowest since late 2008.