French third quarter growth steady as bigger pay packets boost consumer spending

PARIS (Reuters) - The French economy maintained a steady cruising speed in the third quarter as consumer spending picked up on strong purchasing power growth, official data showed on Friday.The euro zone's second-biggest economy grew 0.3% in the July-September period, marking the third quarter in a row of expansion at that rate, the national INSEE statistics agency said, confirming a preliminary estimate.Consumer spending, traditionally the motor of the French economy, picked up to grow at a..