September 21994 laets Igures TfcadeWiiids International m a r k e t information compiled by T h e International Shipping Gazette rates generally across Europe had been falling. Significantly, the French rate rise comes while the country s economic recovery is still fragile and faltering. In the US, there are signs of only the most modest slowdown in activity. New figures from the American Commerce Department estimate that in the second quarter of the PULLING NO year, real gross domPUNCHES: estic product grew at The US Federal a rate equivalent to Reserve isn 3.8