French economy powers ahead

Now seems as good a time as any in the past decade to become French president.

Following years of economic stagnation partly related to the problems afflicting the euro currency, there’s a raft of evidence to suggest that the French economy is powering ahead. A recent survey of French business activity by financial firm IHS Markit pointed to the sharpest rate of growth in almost six years, and even ahead of Germany, Europe’s biggest economy. Economic growth is poised for a rebound this year.

And following the first round of the French presidential election that saw centrist Emmanuel Macron come out on top, the main stock market in Paris spiked to its highest level since early 2008 — before the global financial crisis really took root with the collapse of Lehman Brothers later that year.

All opinion polls — as well as the markets — think that Macron will prevail over his opponent in the runoff on May 7, the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

Macron, it seems, will have a favorable backdrop should he succeed Francois Hollande as president.