frances industrial production declined on month in december because of supplychain strains missing forecasts for an increase according to data released friday by the countrys statistics agency insee total industrial outputcomprising output in manufacturing energy and constructiondecreased 02 in december from november economists polled by the wall street journal had forecast factory output to rise 05 from the previous month industrial production was 53 below february 2020s prepandemic levels insee said manufacturing outputthe largest component of industrial productionrose 01 in december compared with the previous month energy production fell 17 while construction output decreased 69 the french manufacturing sector recorded improvements in some areas during january with output and employment growing faster according to ihs markits manufacturing purchasing managers index manufacturing output growth regained some momentum while comments from our panel members suggest that demand conditions remain accommodative ihs markit senior economist joe hayes said however production capacities were being stretched because of material and staff shortages cost pressures remained elevated and output price inflation surged to a new record in january the french manufacturing pmi inched down to 555 in january from 556 in december