French Factory Output Drops

French industrial output dropped unexpectedly in February while the trade deficit was close to a record, data showed on Friday, tempering France’s economic outlook at the start of the year after surprisingly strong business confidence surveys, Reuters reported. With growth and jobs ranking as a top concern among voters in the imminent presidential election, the data are a fresh reminder of the challenges the next president will have reviving the economy. In a stark contrast to a surge in Germany, French industrial output fell in February far more than any of the 21 economists Reuters surveyed had expected as the warmest February in a decade muted demand for energy production for heating.