French industrial production fell -0.4% MoM in December, below expectations of a -0.1% MoM decline. On a quarterly basis, production is down -0.6% QoQ and, on an annual basis, down -1.2% YoY.

• Manufacturing production fell at a steeper pace of -0.7% MoM and is down -1.9% YoY.
• Transport equipment production fell -5.4% YoY, the main drag on the headline index, as motor vehicle manufacturing crashed -11.0% MoM for a weak annual rate of -16.5% YoY.
• Another index that was a major drag was basic metals and fabricated metal products, down -0.7% MoM and -4.2% YoY.
• Offsetting the weakness was a 2.8% MoM increase in food product & beverage production.