PARIS (Reuters) -France’s manufacturing sector contracted less than initially reported in October, a survey showed on Monday, but remained in a state of weakness during the opening month of the fourth quarter as output and new orders saw further marked decreases.

The Final HCOB France Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, rose to 48.8 last month, from 48.2 in September and also up versus the 48.3 flash figure.

Aside from August 2025, when it stood at 50.4, the manufacturing PMI index has remained below the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction since January 2023.

“French manufacturers are facing the future with a sense of pessimism,” said Jonas Feldhusen, junior economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank AG. “Political instability and persiste

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