Nonetheless, with unemployment stubbornly high and the Socialist government facing resistance from trade unions and the left wing of its party to implementing long-term economic reforms, concerns about France's recovery will remain, analysts said.
Indeed, a survey published by Markit earlier this week showed factory activity in France remains in contraction territory together with beleaguered Greece.
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"Warning lights are flashing particularly brightly over France and Greece," Markit chief economist Chris Williamson said in a statement following the release of purchasing managers' index (PMI) – a closely-watched measure of activity.
Other economists added that while the PMI data has not always been the most reflective indicator of French economic activity in recent years, there remained significant areas of concern.
"The start of the year does seem better for France – the consumer recovery has gained momentum and the industrial production numbers have been better," Jessica Hinds, European Economist at Capital Economics in London, told CNBC.
"But we remain fairly pessimistic on France," she added. "We are cautious because of high unemployment and structural rigidities as France struggles with a rigid labor market and competitiveness."
France's unemployment rate is at about 10.4 percent, below the euro area average of just over 11 percent but well above the average of around 7 percent seen in the economies of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysts said improvements in the employment numbers remained elusive since French companies continued to make job cuts. French nuclear group Areva, for instance, said Thursday it plans to cut 6,000 jobs over the next three years.
Hinds said she forecast the French economy to grow about 1 percent this year and next. Capital Economics expects Germany, Europe's biggest economy, to expand 2 percent this year.