04.09.202607:30:00UTC+00France’s Construction Slump Deepens as HCOB PMI Falls Further in August

France’s construction sector weakened further in August, with the HCOB France Construction PMI dropping to 37.3 from 41.5 in July 2026, according to data updated on 4 September 2026. The index remains well below the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction, signaling an accelerating downturn in activity.

Measured on a month‑over‑month basis, the August reading shows a sharper contraction compared with July, when the indicator had already been in negative territory. The latest decline suggests mounting pressure on the French construction industry as project pipelines, workloads, or related activity appear to have deteriorated further over the summer.

The consecutive month‑to‑month weakening from July to August 2026 underlines persistent strain in the sector and raises concerns over construction’s contribution to broader French economic performance in the near term.