France's deficit widens as exports drop

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

PARIS, Dec. 8 (Chinese media) -- France's trade deficit widened to record levels

in October, as exports were hard hurt by the global economy slowdown, official

data showed Tuesday.

According to the data, the October deficit expanded to 7.07 billion euros

(9.08 billion U.S. dollars), against the forecast of5.65 billion euros and 5.961

billion eruos in September.

The exports of France, the world's fifth largest exporter, fell4.5 percent

to 32.56 billion euros in October from 34.09 billion in September due to a

dismal performance for industry output in its core European markets. While, the

imports of France fell to 39.63 billion euros from 40.05 billion.

France's budget deficit grew to 60.7 billion euros at the end of October,

compared to 52.7 billion euros in the same period last year, the Budget Ministry

said in a statement.

Exports from Germany also fell in October. France's Finance Minister

Christine Lagarde said France could "do better."