Forex

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - A composite indicator of consumer confidence in France slipped to -35 in February from -34 in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to a monthly survey carried out by statistics office Insee.

Economists had expected the figure to improve slightly to -33.5. The level of -35 is the lowest level the indicator has reached since it began in 1987. The level of -34 reached in January was previously the lowest level the indicator had reached.

The indicator represents the balance in percentage points between consumers having experienced, or expecting, a rise in their living standard and those seeing a decline.

The indicator on consumers' past personal financial situation was -25 in February, unchanged from a month earlier, while the outlook for personal finances was -14, unchanged from its revised January level. This was originally reported at -13 for January.

Past French standard of living was -68 compared with -65 the month before, originally reported as -64. The outlook for the French standard of living stood at -42 versus -44.

The Insee indicator showing the inclination to buy consumer goods was -26 on the month against -24 in January.