and is expected to be far larger than planned in the 1993
budget. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsch mark
parity, which has kept French interest rates high despite France's low
inflation. Although the pace of economic integration within the European
Community has slowed down, integration presumably will remain a major force
shaping the fortunes of the various economic sectors.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.08 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
1.1% (1992)
National product per capita:
$18,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.5% (end 1992)
Budget:
revenues $220.5 billion; expenditures $249.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $47 billion (1993 budget)
Exports:
$212.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural
products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing
partners:
Germany 18.6%, Italy 11.0%, Spain 11.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.1%, UK 8.8%,
Netherlands 7.9%, US 6.4%, Japan 2.0%, former USSR 0.7% (1991 est.)
Imports:
$230.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron
and steel products
partners:
Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.9%, US 9.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, Spain 8.8%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 8.5%, UK 7.5%, Japan 4.1%, former USSR 1.3% (1991 est.)
External debt:
$270 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.2% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
110,000,000 kW capacity; 426,000 million kWh produced, 7,430 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics,
mining, textiles, food processing, tourism

*France, Economy

Agriculture:
accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); one of the world's
top five wheat producers; other principal products - beef, dairy products,
cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; self-sufficient for most
temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce,
but overall net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons
ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion
Currency:
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
French francs (F) pe