PARIS, March 24 (Reuters) - French February consumer spending fell at its fastest pace in over a year and business confidence stayed stuck at a record low in March, data showed on Tuesday.
Consumer spending on manufactured goods fell 2.0 percent month-on-month, national statistics office INSEE said, far worse than expectations for a fall of 0.8 percent and following a downwardly revised increase of 1.7 percent in January.
The number was pulled down by falling purchases of household equipment and clothes. [ID:nPAB004715]
Another INSEE report showed business morale in March stayed at 68, the lowest point ever recorded as bosses fretted about empty order books. [ID:nPAB004716]
A separate report, the Markit/CDAF composite purchasing managers' index, showed that private sector activity declined at a slower pace in March but firms cut jobs at a record rate, casting doubt over the outlook for the months ahead. [ID:nSAC014199] (Reporting by Anna Willard; Editing by Mike Peacock)