PARIS — Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici warned Thursday that France could revise down its growth forecast following gloomy figures from the Bank of France, saying “we’re adjusting that”.

“It’s true there are several indicators that have raised questions, notably those of the Bank of France. We’re adjusting that,” Moscovici told France 2 television when asked if France would revise down its growth forecast.

President Francois Hollande promised during his election campaign to reduce public debt based on a forecast of 0.5 percent growth this year and 1.7 percent in 2013.

But the Bank of France on Friday cut its estimate for French growth, saying the eurozone’s second-biggest economy would now likely contract by 0.1 percent in the second quarter.

The central bank previously expected growth to be essentially flat in the three months from April through June.

If the figures are confirmed it would be the first quarterly contraction since France pulled out of recession in 2009. — AFP