Archives Jan. 1, 2026

INSEE has just published its first estimate of the growth figures of the French economy in the 1st quarter of 2026, i.e. 0%. Comments about this stagnation do not seem to have understood the nature of the problem. Just because we went from +0.2% in the 4th quarter of 2025 to 0% does not mean that there is a new fact. The imprecision of the numbers after the decimal point should be taken into account. Secondly, a comparison is made between the crisis in the Middle East and the results of the 1st quarter. In reality, this very ...

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The publication of the IFO business index in Germany for February, which is significantly lower than expected (84.4, the lowest level since the low point of the COVID period) after 86.3 in January, reflects the current difficulties of the German economy. But the essential question is whether these are the consequences of the current international instability and will therefore fade away in the future or a structural change affecting a country whose economic model has long been the benchmark in Europe.

Paul Valéry, in his study published in 1898 (A Methodical Conquest) described it as follows: "To ...

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In an increasingly fragmented and unstable international environment, China appears to be a pillar of growth in the world economy. The 5% increase in GDP over one year in the 1st quarter shows that, unlike the main developed countries, the country has not yet been affected by the consequences of the war in the Middle East. Uncertainties about fossil fuel supplies, with the resulting sharp price increases, as well as disruptions to maritime traffic, have not resulted in a significant rebound in inflation or threats to production chains.

The rate of 5% is identical to that published for the year ...

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