French Aug trade deficit 3.535 bln eur vs revised deficit 3.403 bln in July

PARIS (AFX) - French provisional, seasonally-adjusted trade figures for August showed a deficit of 3.535 bln eur compared with a deficit of 3.403 bln in July, revised from a deficit of 3.7 bln eur reported originally.

Economists polled by AFX News had expected a deficit of 2.9 bln eur.

Exports in August totaled 32.318 bln eur compared with 31.621 bln the month before, revised from 31.696 bln.

Imports were 35.853 bln eur compared with 35.024 bln in July, revised from 35.396 bln reported originally.

The trade balance for the year to date showed a deficit of 19.683 bln eur compared with minus 14.799 bln over the same period last year. [e-mail] mrg/hjp COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited