France's economy contracted by 0.1% in the July-to-September period, compared with growth of 0.5% in the previous three months.

 

Germany's economy grew by 0.3% in the quarter, down from a rate of 0.7% seen in the previous three months.

 

Growth figures for the eurozone as a whole will be released later.

 

 

When France's economy grew by 0.5% in the second quarter of the year, it pulled the country out of recession, although economists¹ had not expected that level of growth to be sustained.

 

Figures from the national statistics agency Insee showed that exports dropped by 1.5% in the third quarter, while business investment fell by 0.6%.

 

However, France's Finance Minister, Pierre Moscovici, said he still believed the economy would grow by 0.1-0.2% over 2013 as a whole.

 

"The productive forces are starting up again, production is recovering," Mr Moscovici told French radio.

 

"We knew the third quarter would mark a pause, it's not a surprise, it's not an indicator² of decline, it's not a recession."

 

Germany's statistics office Destatis also cited weak exports as a factor holding back growth.

 

"The positive impulses in the third quarter came exclusively from within Germany," Destatis said.

 

"Private household and public spending were somewhat higher than in the preceding quarter. And investment in equipment and construction also increased compared with the second quarter. 

 

"By contrast, the trade balance put a brake on GDP growth. While imports continued to rise, exports showed little momentum³ compared with the preceding quarter," it said.

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