France is facing its most significant cost of living crisis since 1960, with real wages declining since 2019 and purchasing power diminishing for two consecutive years. Inflation reached 3% in September, the highest since February 2024, driven mainly by energy prices. This economic strain is also reflected in a 0.5% drop in household consumption in August and is impacting small businesses, with some customers resorting to installment payments for services.

Le Monde: France Faces Historic Cost of Living Crisis: Families Lost an Average of…

Real wages in France have been declining since 2019, a rare phenomenon that was previously offset by social transfers and asset income. However, this buffer has diminished in 2025 and 2026, leading to two consecutive years of declining purchasing power, a situation not seen since 1960.

Le Figaro: Inflation hits 3% in September, highest since February 2024, Insee announces

Inflation in France has crossed the symbolic threshold of 3% over one year in September, reaching its highest point since February 2024, according to the Insee. The acceleration is mainly due to a surge in energy prices.

Le Monde: Alsace Garagemaker Sees Bills Soar, Customers Paying in Installments

An independent garage owner in Alsace is experiencing soaring costs for himself and his clients, with one in two customers now paying for services in four installments, highlighting the impact of economic pressures on small businesses.

Le Figaro: French household consumption drops 0.5% in August, says Insee

According to the Insee, French household consumption decreased by 0.5% in August, indicating a slowdown in economic activity.

Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, estimated at 300,000 by the CGT union, mobilized across France to protest against public service underfunding, wage freezes, and poor working conditions. Unions highlighted that many civil servants earn less than the minimum wage, and their financial situation is worsening due to inflation, demanding tangible improvements beyond verbal appreciation.

Mediapart: 'We can no longer serve the general interest properly': Hundreds of Thousands…

According to the CGT union, 300,000 people mobilized in France to protest against public service underfunding, wage freezes, and poor working conditions, leading to a 'impoverishment of public services'.

Mediapart: Wage Freeze: Civil Servants March to Denounce Their Low Salaries

Public sector unions called for a mobilization against the government's announcements, highlighting that many civil servants earn less than the minimum wage, and their financial situation is worsening due to inflation.

Le Monde: Public Sector Workers Protest for More Than Just Thanks Amid Cost of Living…

Civil servants have taken to the streets to demand tangible improvements beyond verbal appreciation, protesting the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Following Mediapart's revelations about alleged antisemitic writings by Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally, the party has issued threats against the publication, with Marine Le Pen, the party's parliamentary leader, making "grave threats." Mediapart is responding with a special broadcast and insists on the public's right to know, while Fabrice Arfi, an investigative journalist at Mediapart, indicates that further revelations are expected. Bardella denies the allegations, calling…

Mediapart: Bardella Affair: Threats as the Only Response

Following Mediapart's revelations about Jordan Bardella's alleged antisemitic writings, the National Rally party has issued threats against the publication, which is responding with a special broadcast featuring the investigating journalists.

Mediapart: Far-Right Threatens Mediapart: The Right to Know Concerns Everyone

After Mediapart's revelations about Jordan Bardella's antisemitic writings, Marine Le Pen made grave threats against the newspaper, which Mediapart is refuting by presenting the facts.

Mediapart: Marine Le Pen, RN and Antisemitism: Not Madness, but Deception

Mediapart's revelations about the National Rally president's antisemitic writings are part of a pattern by a party that has spent 15 years trying to conceal its nature to gain power, with antisemitism tolerated within the RN.

Mediapart: 'Banks are all owned by Jews': Bardella Faces His Antisemitic Writings

Mediapart has obtained exchanges from Jordan Bardella's early political career revealing his obsessive antisemitism, though Bardella has contested these findings, calling them 'gross fabrications'.

Le Figaro: Antisemitic writings attributed to Bardella: 'The revelations continue,' says…

Fabrice Arfi of Médiapart stated that further revelations are forthcoming regarding antisemitic writings attributed to Jordan Bardella.

The 2027 presidential election is seeing early political maneuvering. Gabriel Attal, General Secretary of Renaissance, criticized La France Insoumise (LFI) for allegedly using young people as "political cannon fodder." Meanwhile, Bruno Retailleau, President of The Republicans and a conservative presidential candidate, is causing discomfort among the European right by challenging the primacy of European Union law and outlining a vision for European construction that differs from Marine Le Pen's.

Le Figaro: 2027 Presidential Election: 'LFI uses our youth as political cannon fodder,'…

Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal criticized La France Insoumise (LFI), stating that the party uses young people as political 'cannon fodder'.

Le Monde: Bruno Retailleau: Europe's Problem is Perceived Undermining of Democracy

Bruno Retailleau, a conservative presidential candidate for 2027, argues in an interview that Europe has given its citizens the impression of circumventing democracy, and outlines his vision for European construction that differs from Marine Le Pen's.

Le Monde: 2027 Presidential Election: Bruno Retailleau's Challenge to EU Law Primacy…

Bruno Retailleau's questioning of the primacy of European Union law is causing discomfort among the European right wing as he campaigns for the 2027 presidential election.

Météo-France has issued a red alert for severe rainfall and flooding in the Gard and Hérault departments, anticipating an exceptional Mediterranean weather event. The Lozère and Ardèche departments remain on orange alert.

Le Monde: Gard and Hérault Placed on Red Vigilance for 'Rain-Flooding', Météo-France…

The Lozère and Ardèche departments remain on orange alert, while Météo-France has issued a red alert for severe rainfall and flooding in Gard and Hérault, anticipating an exceptional Mediterranean weather event.