French consumer confidence fell to a record low for the fifth consecutive month in May as concern about inflation made households downbeat about the health of their finances and compounded their reluctance to spend.
National statistics office INSEE's barometer of consumer morale in the euro zone's second biggest economy fell to minus 41, the lowest since the series began in January 1987, from a revised minus 38 in April, data showed today.
That was worse than expected by economists, whose consensus forecast had been for a reading of minus 38 compared with the minus 37 which had initially been reported for April.
The data came a day after a report showed business confidence fell to its lowest level in 2-1/2 years in May and will support economists' view that economic activity is slowing.
