The French economy should grow by 2.2 pct next year, close to the government forecast of 2.25 pct, according to the economic think tank OFCE. The OFCE expects economic growth of 1.7 pct for 2005, within the government's 1.5-2.0 pct target range. Speaking at a press conference, the assistant director of the OFCE's analysis and forecasting department, Eric Heyer, said France's economic performance "remains very mediocre." He said that the 2006 projection hinges on an economic upturn in the closing months of 2005, with economic growth of 0.7 pct in the third quarter and 0.6 pct in the fourth quarter that will "put the economy on the right track for 2006." The OFCE also sees unemployment falling to 9.2 pct at the end of 2006, from 9.9 pct in August.