French textile sales boosted

French household goods consumption rose 1 percent in May, up from the 0.4 percent gain recorded for April. That was on a surge in textile sales, the French national statistics institute Insee said. French consumer spending on textiles jumped 4.6 percent in May compared with the 2.2 percent drop a month earlier. After losing 1 percent in April, spending on car purchases bounced back, rising 2 percent. The report said that in turned pulled consumption of durable products, which was up 1 percent. However, people consumed less energy products, mainly gas and electricity, which fell 2.3 percent at the end of May due to warm weather. Consumption of manufactured products accounts for about 25 percent of the country’s total consumption of processed goods and services.