By Inti Landauro

PARIS--French business sentiment in manufacturing dipped in May but remained above the long-term average as business leaders are more upbeat about their order books, statistics showed Tuesday.

Business confidence in manufacturing dipped to 104--four points above the long-term average--from a revised 105 in April, statistics agency Insee said. Business sentiment in April was at the same level as what economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had expected.

Insee had estimated business confidence in April at 104.

A wider measure of business confidence--including services, wholesale, construction and retail--inched up in May to 102 up from 101 in April.

Insee said confidence increased in the manufacturing, retail industry and services industries.

-Write to Inti Landauro at inti.landauro@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 24, 2016 03:37 ET (07:37 GMT)