French central bank sees economy accelerating

France's central bank Thursday said French growth would accelerate over the next two years, in its first-ever annual projections for the eurozone' second largest economy.

The economy was seen growing at 1.2 percent this year, rising to 1.8 percent in 2016 and 1.9 percent in 2017.

The projections were more optimistic than the government's forecasts, which put growth this year at 1.0 percent, even if Paris hopes to do better.

The bank said the economy would be bolstered by a drop in the oil price, a lower euro exchange rate and the European Central Bank's loose monetary policy.

It added that "unemployment could stabilise in 2015 and progressively drop from 2016", good news for President Francois Hollande who has said he will not stand for a second term in office unless the jobless queues shorten.

Also Thursday, the country's statistics office INSEE published quarterly unemployment figures showing the jobless rate in France was 10.0 percent.

It also said unemployment hit a annual record high in 2014, reaching 10.4 percent.