GDP stagnated, more rigorous for
A cold shower! Well than expected by economists, the announcement of a French no growth in the second quarter 2011 is a very bad surprise. The surge of 0.9% of GDP in the first quarter is no longer a distant memory, the stagnation of activity between March and June changed all that in full preparation of the budget in 2012. Because the government now sees its growth forecasts for 2011 and 2012 seriously undermined.
The cold snap of the second quarter mainly due to a decline of 0.7% of household consumption. "This is the highest in fifteen years and the third largest drop in consumption in fifty years," notes Laurence Boone, chief economist for Europe Bofa Merrill Lynch. The end of the scrapping weighed heavily on automobile purchases.But the damage is deeper: "Households have reduced their spending in all positions in industrial goods," notes Catherine Stephan, at BNP Paribas.
Now, with an asset growth of 1.4% since early 2011, observers doubt the capacity of France to meet its objectives over the next two years. Jennifer McKeown at Capital Economics, expects no more than 1.5% in 2011, far from the 2% of the government. BNP Paribas, it is hardly more optimistic, showing 1.7%. "To achieve a growth of 1.8% throughout the year, it takes a minium that GDP grew by 0.5% in the third and fourth quarters," said Philippe Waechter, Natixis AM. This is exactly what INSEE predicted in June, before the market crisis.But "given the surveys suggesting a slowdown in July, balances that are a priori not unique and shock the financial markets, an increase of 0.5% in the third quarter was the highest of the range, "he says.
Tax loopholes
Under these conditions, the forecast of 2.25% of GDP growth for 2012, on which the budget was to be built next year, is totally obsolete. "This year we will be online," however, assured Baroin RTL on Friday, saying that "this second quarter, disappointing that the first course, which was far ahead was anticipated."For the Minister of Economy, therefore, "it does not change the matrix on which we are working on the budget."
This position should change Aug. 24, at the meeting at the Elysee, presided over by Nicolas Sarkozy, to wedge the new budgetary decisions. At that time, many expect a downward revision of growth forecasts that will involve … an upward revision of cost savings! "We will no matter what the objective of reducing the public deficit to 5.7% of GDP in 2011 and 4.6% in 2012 to reach the 3% in 2013," insists there be tireless in the entourage the budget minister, Valérie Pécresse. The equation is simple. "A lower growth of 0.25 points in 2011 will not prevent Bercy to meet its objectives for the year. However, at current rates, the deficit is moving more towards 4% of GDP in 2013, "calculates Laurence Boone."To return to the 3% target should be achieving 20 billion in additional savings over two years."
So far, the government planned to cut 3 billion in tax loopholes. He will have to change gear. Philippe Marini, rapporteur of the budget in the Senate, calls for 6 to 10 billion in additional savings. If the final figure is not stalled, the method is refined: there will be a general plane of the tax loopholes, coupled with the removal of some of them, for the sake of "tax justice" according to Bercy. Niches affecting corporate tax for large companies are in the sights and the tax on real estate gains could be reviewed upwards. No question, however, to one year of presidential, touching the 5.5% VAT in catering. A niche that cost 3 billion each year and the economic effects, however, uncertain.