BUSINESS / Economy

'Yellow vest' protesters knock wind out of French business and economy, heaping pressure on Macron

Protestors wearing a yellow vest (Gilets jaunes) pull down the grating of the Tuileries Gardens next to the rue de Rivoli, in central Paris, during a demonstration against the rising oil prices and living costs, on Saturday. Police and anti-government protesters clashed near the Champs-Elysees and in other parts of central Paris, with demonstrators hurling rocks and paint at riot police who responded with tear gas. | AFP-JIJI

Reuters

Dec 4, 2018

PARIS –

Three weeks of "yellow vest" protests have hit the French economy hard with trade in retailers, hotel chains, high-street stores and restaurants falling significantly, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday.

Speaking after a meeting with industry groups and business federations affected by the protest movement, Le Maire said sector revenues had been hit by between 15 and 50 percent.

While not providing a precise breakdown, Le Maire said small retailers had seen a fall in revenue of between 20 and 40 percent, the hotel industry was seeing reservations down 15 to 25 percent.

'Yellow vest' protesters knock wind out of French business and economy, heaping pressure on Macron

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