the french economy expanded in the third quarter beating economists forecasts amid strong domestic demand the eurozones secondlargest economy grew 02 in the third quarter french statistics agency insee said friday in a first estimate for the period economists polled by the wall street journal had forecast the economy would grow by 01 on quarter year on year the economy expanded by 10 in the third quarter domestic demand contributed 04 to gdp growth while trade was a drag for growth spain and germany are also scheduled to release figures on gross domestic product friday