French Construction Downturn Persists

2026-10-06 07:50 By Erika Ordonez 1 min. read

The S&P Global France Construction PMI rose to 39.8 in September 2026 from 37.3 in August, remaining well below the 50 threshold, signaling a continued sector-wide downturn.

Commercial construction was once again the weakest segment, posting a steep decline followed by residential construction, while civil engineering activity posted its slowest contraction in eight months.

New projects continued to fall, extending the downturn in demand to four-and-a-half years, amid a lack of new tenders, client budget constraints, and general uncertainty.

Firms also cut construction material purchases and employment, extending the current period of job shedding that began in May 2024.

Meanwhile, input cost inflation remained historically elevated, partly due to repercussions from the war in the Middle East, while delivery delays eased to their lowest since June 2025.

French constructors also became more pessimistic about the year ahead, with expectations falling to their weakest since December 2025.



News Stream
French Construction Downturn Persists
The S&P Global France Construction PMI rose to 39.8 in September 2026 from 37.3 in August, remaining well below the 50 threshold, signaling a continued sector-wide downturn. Commercial construction was once again the weakest segment, posting a steep decline followed by residential construction, while civil engineering activity posted its slowest contraction in eight months. New projects continued to fall, extending the downturn in demand to four-and-a-half years, amid a lack of new tenders, client budget constraints, and general uncertainty. Firms also cut construction material purchases and employment, extending the current period of job shedding that began in May 2024. Meanwhile, input cost inflation remained historically elevated, partly due to repercussions from the war in the Middle East, while delivery delays eased to their lowest since June 2025. French constructors also became more pessimistic about the year ahead, with expectations falling to their weakest since December 2025.
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