In the eye of the storm

Last year was a mixed one for the French insurance market. After suffering a 7% contraction in 1998, the market recovered sufficiently to increase its total premium income by 11.7% to FF1,143bn (US$150bn) in 1999. But the expansion, driven by strong growth in the French economy, was entirely due to the resurgence in the life and health insurance sector which accounts for just over 70% of total premium income in France.