FRANCE *CLOCKS UP* FASTEST

FRANCE : clocks up fastest growth in six years : Data

The French economy notched up its fastest growth in six years in 2017, expanding by 1.9 percent,  -the national statistics institute INSEE calculated on Tuesday.

The figure, in line with forecasts by both  INSEE  and the bank of France, representing a marked  pick-up  from 2016, when gross domestic product grew by 1.1 percent.

The economy performed particularly strongly in the  fourth quarter last year when GDP expanded  by 0.6 percent, the statisticians calculated.

The government had been pencilling in growth of 1.7 percent for last year.

But Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire recently hinted that the performance could be better, saying that ''growth is solid, it may be close to 2.0 percent in 2017.''

The acceleration in economic activity was driven largely by increased investment, which was up 3.7 percent last year, INSEE said.

Consumer spending increased by 1.3 percent even if consumption growth slowed in the fourth quarter.

Exports also picked up. growing by 3.5 percent in 2017. compared with 1.9 percent a year earlier, while imports were up 4.3 percent.

[Agencies].