Informations Rapides ·
24 February 2026 · n° 40
In February 2026, the business climate has darkened Business indicator - February 2026
In February 2026, the synthetic indicator of business climate, calculated from the responses of the business managers from the main market sectors, has lost two points: at 97, it has moved away from its average level (100). The one of employment climate has lost one point and stands clearly below its long-term average.
In February 2026, the synthetic indicator of business climate, calculated from the responses of the business managers from the main market sectors, has lost two points: at 97, it has moved away from its average level (100). The one of employment climate has lost one point and stands clearly below its long-term average.
In February 2026, the business climate indicator has fallen back
In February 2026, the synthetic indicator of business climate in France has lost two points. At 97, it has moved away from its long term average (100). The business climate has deteriorated in manufacturing industry and services, more slightly in retail trade, and is stable in building construction.
tableauFrench business climate composite indicator
| French business climate composite indicator | |
|---|---|
| 2026-02 | 97.4 |
| 2026-01 | 99.3 |
| 2025-12 | 98.8 |
| 2025-11 | 97.7 |
| 2025-10 | 96.6 |
| 2025-09 | 95.9 |
| 2025-08 | 96.2 |
| 2025-07 | 95.9 |
| 2025-06 | 96.0 |
| 2025-05 | 95.5 |
| 2025-04 | 97.1 |
| 2025-03 | 96.7 |
| 2025-02 | 95.9 |
| 2025-01 | 95.4 |
| 2024-12 | 95.0 |
| 2024-11 | 96.1 |
| 2024-10 | 97.0 |
| 2024-09 | 97.4 |
| 2024-08 | 96.6 |
| 2024-07 | 94.4 |
| 2024-06 | 99.6 |
| 2024-05 | 99.9 |
| 2024-04 | 99.8 |
| 2024-03 | 100.4 |
| 2024-02 | 99.0 |
| 2024-01 | 99.5 |
| 2023-12 | 98.9 |
| 2023-11 | 98.1 |
| 2023-10 | 98.8 |
| 2023-09 | 99.9 |
| 2023-08 | 100.3 |
| 2023-07 | 100.7 |
| 2023-06 | 100.9 |
| 2023-05 | 100.6 |
| 2023-04 | 103.5 |
| 2023-03 | 103.0 |
| 2023-02 | 103.6 |
| 2023-01 | 102.8 |
| 2022-12 | 103.4 |
| 2022-11 | 103.0 |
| 2022-10 | 103.0 |
| 2022-09 | 102.2 |
| 2022-08 | 104.2 |
| 2022-07 | 103.7 |
| 2022-06 | 105.0 |
| 2022-05 | 106.4 |
| 2022-04 | 107.1 |
| 2022-03 | 107.3 |
| 2022-02 | 114.1 |
| 2022-01 | 109.2 |
| 2021-12 | 110.9 |
| 2021-11 | 114.9 |
| 2021-10 | 114.5 |
| 2021-09 | 112.1 |
| 2021-08 | 111.1 |
| 2021-07 | 113.5 |
| 2021-06 | 115.3 |
| 2021-05 | 111.1 |
| 2021-04 | 97.3 |
| 2021-03 | 98.3 |
| 2021-02 | 91.1 |
| 2021-01 | 94.3 |
| 2020-12 | 93.3 |
| 2020-11 | 78.0 |
| 2020-10 | 90.5 |
| 2020-09 | 93.8 |
| 2020-08 | 94.5 |
| 2020-07 | 90.9 |
| 2020-06 | 84.5 |
| 2020-05 | 58.6 |
| 2020-04 | 45.6 |
| 2020-03 | 93.8 |
| 2020-02 | 106.1 |
| 2020-01 | 106.8 |
| 2019-12 | 106.7 |
| 2019-11 | 107.1 |
| 2019-10 | 107.0 |
| 2019-09 | 107.1 |
| 2019-08 | 106.3 |
| 2019-07 | 106.4 |
| 2019-06 | 107.2 |
| 2019-05 | 107.3 |
| 2019-04 | 107.6 |
| 2019-03 | 106.2 |
| 2019-02 | 105.0 |
| 2019-01 | 104.7 |
| 2018-12 | 104.1 |
| 2018-11 | 107.1 |
| 2018-10 | 106.7 |
| 2018-09 | 107.6 |
| 2018-08 | 107.9 |
| 2018-07 | 108.3 |
| 2018-06 | 109.2 |
| 2018-05 | 109.7 |
| 2018-04 | 111.4 |
| 2018-03 | 111.8 |
| 2018-02 | 111.8 |
| 2018-01 | 113.0 |
| 2017-12 | 113.6 |
| 2017-11 | 112.4 |
| 2017-10 | 111.1 |
| 2017-09 | 111.2 |
| 2017-08 | 110.9 |
| 2017-07 | 109.8 |
| 2017-06 | 108.9 |
| 2017-05 | 108.0 |
| 2017-04 | 107.5 |
| 2017-03 | 106.8 |
| 2017-02 | 107.4 |
| 2017-01 | 106.5 |
| 2016-12 | 106.1 |
| 2016-11 | 103.8 |
| 2016-10 | 103.7 |
| 2016-09 | 103.6 |
| 2016-08 | 103.5 |
| 2016-07 | 103.9 |
| 2016-06 | 103.1 |
| 2016-05 | 104.5 |
| 2016-04 | 102.4 |
| 2016-03 | 103.1 |
| 2016-02 | 103.2 |
| 2016-01 | 104.2 |
| 2015-12 | 101.7 |
| 2015-11 | 103.2 |
| 2015-10 | 103.1 |
| 2015-09 | 102.3 |
| 2015-08 | 103.1 |
| 2015-07 | 101.3 |
| 2015-06 | 100.9 |
| 2015-05 | 99.7 |
| 2015-04 | 98.6 |
| 2015-03 | 97.0 |
| 2015-02 | 95.8 |
| 2015-01 | 94.9 |
| 2014-12 | 93.9 |
| 2014-11 | 93.8 |
| 2014-10 | 91.8 |
| 2014-09 | 92.0 |
| 2014-08 | 93.0 |
| 2014-07 | 94.5 |
| 2014-06 | 95.1 |
| 2014-05 | 95.8 |
| 2014-04 | 96.3 |
| 2014-03 | 96.4 |
| 2014-02 | 95.3 |
| 2014-01 | 95.6 |
| 2013-12 | 94.2 |
| 2013-11 | 94.9 |
| 2013-10 | 95.4 |
| 2013-09 | 95.7 |
| 2013-08 | 91.8 |
| 2013-07 | 88.5 |
| 2013-06 | 86.7 |
| 2013-05 | 85.3 |
| 2013-04 | 84.2 |
| 2013-03 | 85.7 |
| 2013-02 | 87.8 |
| 2013-01 | 87.7 |
| 2012-12 | 88.2 |
| 2012-11 | 87.4 |
| 2012-10 | 85.9 |
| 2012-09 | 87.9 |
| 2012-08 | 89.4 |
| 2012-07 | 90.6 |
| 2012-06 | 91.5 |
| 2012-05 | 92.8 |
| 2012-04 | 97.2 |
| 2012-03 | 95.4 |
| 2012-02 | 92.7 |
| 2012-01 | 92.8 |
| 2011-12 | 94.3 |
| 2011-11 | 95.4 |
| 2011-10 | 97.6 |
| 2011-09 | 98.6 |
| 2011-08 | 101.3 |
| 2011-07 | 106.5 |
| 2011-06 | 108.0 |
| 2011-05 | 108.3 |
| 2011-04 | 109.0 |
| 2011-03 | 109.9 |
| 2011-02 | 109.4 |
| 2011-01 | 108.2 |
| 2010-12 | 107.3 |
| 2010-11 | 105.6 |
| 2010-10 | 104.8 |
| 2010-09 | 102.9 |
| 2010-08 | 100.8 |
| 2010-07 | 98.6 |
| 2010-06 | 96.8 |
| 2010-05 | 97.3 |
| 2010-04 | 96.1 |
| 2010-03 | 92.1 |
| 2010-02 | 92.9 |
| 2010-01 | 92.3 |
| 2009-12 | 90.7 |
| 2009-11 | 90.6 |
| 2009-10 | 88.8 |
| 2009-09 | 85.9 |
| 2009-08 | 82.9 |
| 2009-07 | 79.7 |
| 2009-06 | 77.6 |
| 2009-05 | 73.9 |
| 2009-04 | 70.7 |
| 2009-03 | 69.0 |
| 2009-02 | 72.7 |
| 2009-01 | 74.5 |
| 2008-12 | 76.1 |
| 2008-11 | 79.1 |
| 2008-10 | 82.7 |
| 2008-09 | 92.4 |
| 2008-08 | 94.7 |
| 2008-07 | 96.0 |
| 2008-06 | 99.8 |
| 2008-05 | 103.3 |
| 2008-04 | 106.0 |
| 2008-03 | 108.4 |
| 2008-02 | 108.5 |
| 2008-01 | 109.6 |
| 2007-12 | 110.2 |
| 2007-11 | 110.4 |
| 2007-10 | 110.1 |
| 2007-09 | 111.4 |
| 2007-08 | 112.1 |
| 2007-07 | 113.2 |
| 2007-06 | 114.0 |
| 2007-05 | 113.0 |
| 2007-04 | 112.8 |
| 2007-03 | 112.2 |
| 2007-02 | 111.8 |
| 2007-01 | 109.9 |
| 2006-12 | 109.9 |
| 2006-11 | 111.6 |
| 2006-10 | 109.7 |
| 2006-09 | 109.7 |
| 2006-08 | 109.1 |
| 2006-07 | 108.6 |
| 2006-06 | 106.5 |
| 2006-05 | 106.9 |
| 2006-04 | 105.1 |
| 2006-03 | 104.5 |
| 2006-02 | 104.0 |
| 2006-01 | 106.5 |
graphiqueFrench business climate composite indicator
- Source: INSEE.
In February 2026, the business climate has fallen back in manufacturing industry. At 102, the synthetic indicator has lost three points, has reached back its December 2025 level, but remains above its long-term average (100). This mainly results from the decrease in the balances relating to past and future production, and from the downturn in the balance on overall order books.
The business climate has also deteriorated in services, and all of the sub-sector have contributed to it. After two months of stability, the synthetic indicator has lost three points: at 95, it has moved away from its long-term average (100).
The business climate has slightly decreased in the whole sector comprising retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles. At 98, the synthetic indicator has lost one point and has moved away from its long-term average (100).
Lastly, the business climate is stable in building construction. At 97, the synthetic indicator remains below its long-term average (100). The business leaders' opinion on their expected activity is stable, whereas the one on past activity has slightly decreased.
tableauBusiness and employment climates
| Oct. 25 | Nov. 25 | Dec. 25 | Jan. 26 | Feb. 26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business climates | |||||
| France | 97 | 98 | 99 | 99 | 97 |
| Manufacturing industry | 101 | 98 | 102 | 105 | 102 |
| Building construction | 96 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| Services | 95 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 95 |
| Retail trade* | 99 | 97 | 104 | 99 | 98 |
| Wholesale trade | 98 | 100 | |||
| Employment | 95 | 96 | 94 | 94 | 93 |
- * including trade and repair of vehicles.
- Source: INSEE, business tendency surveys.
The employment climate indicator has darkened again
In February 2026, the synthetic indicator of employment climate has lost one point, at 93, and stands clearly below its long-term average. This is mainly due to the deterioration in the balance of future workforce size in services (excluding temporary work agencies).
tableauFrench employment climate composite indicator
| French employment climate composite indicator | |
|---|---|
| 2026-02 | 92.7 |
| 2026-01 | 93.7 |
| 2025-12 | 94.5 |
| 2025-11 | 96.3 |
| 2025-10 | 94.7 |
| 2025-09 | 93.4 |
| 2025-08 | 94.8 |
| 2025-07 | 95.9 |
| 2025-06 | 98.3 |
| 2025-05 | 93.6 |
| 2025-04 | 97.8 |
| 2025-03 | 96.5 |
| 2025-02 | 93.6 |
| 2025-01 | 97.1 |
| 2024-12 | 96.5 |
| 2024-11 | 98.4 |
| 2024-10 | 97.4 |
| 2024-09 | 98.6 |
| 2024-08 | 98.4 |
| 2024-07 | 97.2 |
| 2024-06 | 100.1 |
| 2024-05 | 101.8 |
| 2024-04 | 102.2 |
| 2024-03 | 101.0 |
| 2024-02 | 103.1 |
| 2024-01 | 99.7 |
| 2023-12 | 101.0 |
| 2023-11 | 99.9 |
| 2023-10 | 103.0 |
| 2023-09 | 104.1 |
| 2023-08 | 102.2 |
| 2023-07 | 106.4 |
| 2023-06 | 106.6 |
| 2023-05 | 107.1 |
| 2023-04 | 110.5 |
| 2023-03 | 109.8 |
| 2023-02 | 110.3 |
| 2023-01 | 111.5 |
| 2022-12 | 110.2 |
| 2022-11 | 109.0 |
| 2022-10 | 109.5 |
| 2022-09 | 108.5 |
| 2022-08 | 109.4 |
| 2022-07 | 111.2 |
| 2022-06 | 109.2 |
| 2022-05 | 111.2 |
| 2022-04 | 112.6 |
| 2022-03 | 113.7 |
| 2022-02 | 114.5 |
| 2022-01 | 110.8 |
| 2021-12 | 110.4 |
| 2021-11 | 113.2 |
| 2021-10 | 112.6 |
| 2021-09 | 106.6 |
| 2021-08 | 108.3 |
| 2021-07 | 108.2 |
| 2021-06 | 106.7 |
| 2021-05 | 101.2 |
| 2021-04 | 92.0 |
| 2021-03 | 90.8 |
| 2021-02 | 83.9 |
| 2021-01 | 87.1 |
| 2020-12 | 83.7 |
| 2020-11 | 81.4 |
| 2020-10 | 89.5 |
| 2020-09 | 91.6 |
| 2020-08 | 88.9 |
| 2020-07 | 79.0 |
| 2020-06 | 68.4 |
| 2020-05 | 50.6 |
| 2020-04 | 42.0 |
| 2020-03 | 97.7 |
| 2020-02 | 105.9 |
| 2020-01 | 106.1 |
| 2019-12 | 107.6 |
| 2019-11 | 107.5 |
| 2019-10 | 107.3 |
| 2019-09 | 107.2 |
| 2019-08 | 108.0 |
| 2019-07 | 107.3 |
| 2019-06 | 108.2 |
| 2019-05 | 106.3 |
| 2019-04 | 108.8 |
| 2019-03 | 108.5 |
| 2019-02 | 108.3 |
| 2019-01 | 106.6 |
| 2018-12 | 105.4 |
| 2018-11 | 105.0 |
| 2018-10 | 107.5 |
| 2018-09 | 107.2 |
| 2018-08 | 108.4 |
| 2018-07 | 108.5 |
| 2018-06 | 109.8 |
| 2018-05 | 110.9 |
| 2018-04 | 110.3 |
| 2018-03 | 110.8 |
| 2018-02 | 109.5 |
| 2018-01 | 109.5 |
| 2017-12 | 108.6 |
| 2017-11 | 107.2 |
| 2017-10 | 108.1 |
| 2017-09 | 106.5 |
| 2017-08 | 106.1 |
| 2017-07 | 106.7 |
| 2017-06 | 107.5 |
| 2017-05 | 107.7 |
| 2017-04 | 107.2 |
| 2017-03 | 107.6 |
| 2017-02 | 104.5 |
| 2017-01 | 105.8 |
| 2016-12 | 106.4 |
| 2016-11 | 105.5 |
| 2016-10 | 104.8 |
| 2016-09 | 105.1 |
| 2016-08 | 102.4 |
| 2016-07 | 104.7 |
| 2016-06 | 101.0 |
| 2016-05 | 101.6 |
| 2016-04 | 99.6 |
| 2016-03 | 99.2 |
| 2016-02 | 100.4 |
| 2016-01 | 101.3 |
| 2015-12 | 100.5 |
| 2015-11 | 101.3 |
| 2015-10 | 99.5 |
| 2015-09 | 99.6 |
| 2015-08 | 100.1 |
| 2015-07 | 99.1 |
| 2015-06 | 98.8 |
| 2015-05 | 96.7 |
| 2015-04 | 96.6 |
| 2015-03 | 94.6 |
| 2015-02 | 95.1 |
| 2015-01 | 93.1 |
| 2014-12 | 94.1 |
| 2014-11 | 93.6 |
| 2014-10 | 93.6 |
| 2014-09 | 93.7 |
| 2014-08 | 93.5 |
| 2014-07 | 94.6 |
| 2014-06 | 94.6 |
| 2014-05 | 96.2 |
| 2014-04 | 96.9 |
| 2014-03 | 95.1 |
| 2014-02 | 93.6 |
| 2014-01 | 94.1 |
| 2013-12 | 93.7 |
| 2013-11 | 92.8 |
| 2013-10 | 93.6 |
| 2013-09 | 91.1 |
| 2013-08 | 90.4 |
| 2013-07 | 89.6 |
| 2013-06 | 88.6 |
| 2013-05 | 85.1 |
| 2013-04 | 86.4 |
| 2013-03 | 88.2 |
| 2013-02 | 88.9 |
| 2013-01 | 91.8 |
| 2012-12 | 89.4 |
| 2012-11 | 89.6 |
| 2012-10 | 91.3 |
| 2012-09 | 91.4 |
| 2012-08 | 93.0 |
| 2012-07 | 92.2 |
| 2012-06 | 93.4 |
| 2012-05 | 94.6 |
| 2012-04 | 97.7 |
| 2012-03 | 98.4 |
| 2012-02 | 97.4 |
| 2012-01 | 97.7 |
| 2011-12 | 98.5 |
| 2011-11 | 100.5 |
| 2011-10 | 99.7 |
| 2011-09 | 103.6 |
| 2011-08 | 105.2 |
| 2011-07 | 109.7 |
| 2011-06 | 111.2 |
| 2011-05 | 111.2 |
| 2011-04 | 109.0 |
| 2011-03 | 109.1 |
| 2011-02 | 110.5 |
| 2011-01 | 102.8 |
| 2010-12 | 105.5 |
| 2010-11 | 104.2 |
| 2010-10 | 102.8 |
| 2010-09 | 99.8 |
| 2010-08 | 98.3 |
| 2010-07 | 97.6 |
| 2010-06 | 97.6 |
| 2010-05 | 96.5 |
| 2010-04 | 95.1 |
| 2010-03 | 93.1 |
| 2010-02 | 90.6 |
| 2010-01 | 90.0 |
| 2009-12 | 88.5 |
| 2009-11 | 86.7 |
| 2009-10 | 84.4 |
| 2009-09 | 82.9 |
| 2009-08 | 84.2 |
| 2009-07 | 79.2 |
| 2009-06 | 75.1 |
| 2009-05 | 74.1 |
| 2009-04 | 74.6 |
| 2009-03 | 74.5 |
| 2009-02 | 79.0 |
| 2009-01 | 80.9 |
| 2008-12 | 84.1 |
| 2008-11 | 88.5 |
| 2008-10 | 95.7 |
| 2008-09 | 100.2 |
| 2008-08 | 101.3 |
| 2008-07 | 106.8 |
| 2008-06 | 104.6 |
| 2008-05 | 108.8 |
| 2008-04 | 113.1 |
| 2008-03 | 112.9 |
| 2008-02 | 114.4 |
| 2008-01 | 114.7 |
| 2007-12 | 114.7 |
| 2007-11 | 113.9 |
| 2007-10 | 112.5 |
| 2007-09 | 114.1 |
| 2007-08 | 113.5 |
| 2007-07 | 111.7 |
| 2007-06 | 113.6 |
| 2007-05 | 114.6 |
| 2007-04 | 112.0 |
| 2007-03 | 111.5 |
| 2007-02 | 112.2 |
| 2007-01 | 109.9 |
| 2006-12 | 112.1 |
| 2006-11 | 111.3 |
| 2006-10 | 109.9 |
| 2006-09 | 108.8 |
| 2006-08 | 110.0 |
| 2006-07 | 110.6 |
| 2006-06 | 111.4 |
| 2006-05 | 108.9 |
| 2006-04 | 108.3 |
| 2006-03 | 105.8 |
| 2006-02 | 105.1 |
| 2006-01 | 105.1 |
graphiqueFrench employment climate composite indicator
- Source: INSEE.
Revisions
The indicator of employment climate for January has been revised upwards by one point (after rounding). This revision is mainly due to the inclusion of late responses from companies. The other synthetic indicators of climate have not been revised (after rounding).
For further information
The business climate indicator summarises the information provided by the business tendency surveys in manufacturing, services, trade (retail and wholesale) and building construction. It is built from the 26 balances of opinion used in the build of the sectoral climates according to a dynamic approach, in order to include the bimonthly indicators of wholesale trade.
The employment indicator is based on the 10 balances of employment, past and expected, from the surveys in manufacturing, services, retail trade and building construction. The balances of opinion concerning employment in services that are used in the employment climate distinguish the services excluding temporary work employment sector from temporary work agencies. For the latter, the balances on past and expected workforce size are not weighted, unlike the other sectors.
The surveys in manufacturing industry, building construction, retail trade and trade and repair of vehicles and services are part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.
The responses to these surveys were collected between 27 January and 19 February 2026; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.
Next issue: 26 March 2025 at 08:45 am.
Documentation
Methodology Note (in french) (pdf,151 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
The business climate indicator summarises the information provided by the business tendency surveys in manufacturing, services, trade (retail and wholesale) and building construction. It is built from the 26 balances of opinion used in the build of the sectoral climates according to a dynamic approach, in order to include the bimonthly indicators of wholesale trade.
The employment indicator is based on the 10 balances of employment, past and expected, from the surveys in manufacturing, services, retail trade and building construction. The balances of opinion concerning employment in services that are used in the employment climate distinguish the services excluding temporary work employment sector from temporary work agencies. For the latter, the balances on past and expected workforce size are not weighted, unlike the other sectors.
The surveys in manufacturing industry, building construction, retail trade and trade and repair of vehicles and services are part of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, partly funded by the European Commission.
The responses to these surveys were collected between 27 January and 19 February 2026; most companies answer during the first two weeks of collection.
Next issue: 26 March 2025 at 08:45 am.