The Conference Board Leading Economic Index(LEI) forFrancedecreased 0.3 percent in May to 114.2 (2004 = 100), following a 0.3 percent increase in April, and a 1.0 percent increase in March.

At the same time,The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index(CEI) forFrance, a measure of current economic activity, increased 0.1 percent in May to 105.1 (2004 = 100), following a 0.1 percent decline in April, and no change in March.

The Conference Board LEI forFrancedeclined in May, its first decline this year. However, the index is 3.9 percent above its most recent peak inAugust 2007. In addition, its six-month growth rate has been relatively steady. Meanwhile, The Conference Board CEI has been on a rising trend since reaching its most recent trough inAugust 2009, but it remained flat since February. Taken together, the behavior of the composite indexes suggests that economic activity should expand, albeit moderately, in the near term.