French economy to recover in 2022, Bank of France says

France is expected to recover in 2022, forecasting that the country’s economy will recuperate from its sharpest post-war recession brought by the novel coronavirus crisis, the central bank said on Tuesday.

Europe’s second-largest economy is expected to decline by 10.3% this year. Though it is likely to contract, economic recovery is still possible as the Bank of France foresees a 6.9% growth in 2021 and 3.9% in 2022.  

Job losses are likely to surge this year and the unemployment rate could reach a record of 11.8% in the first half of 2021.

The central bank believed that the outlook is tentative and it could grow more upbeat if the virus will be controlled immediately. However, a second wave of infections could drag the economy into a 16% contraction this year followed by growth of 6% in 2021 and 4% in 2022.