the anti-inflation quarter will “obviously” be extended, assures Bruno le Maire

2023-05-21 12:46:27

By Le Figaro with AFP

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“We are obviously going to extend (the operation) for an additional quarter because the summer is difficult,” said the minister on Saturday evening.

The anti-inflation quarter in supermarkets will be “obviously” prolonged “of a quarter“confirmed the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, reiterating his “determination” To “stop the price spiral“by the fall and promising”in a few weeks» proposals for tax cuts. “We will obviously extend (the operation) for an additional quarter because the summer is difficult“said Bruno Le Maire on France 2 on Saturday evening. “As the prices are not going to drop immediately, the distributors must commit themselves for next summer and they have done so, so much the better.»

Bruno Le Maire also “thanked“the agro-food manufacturers for accepting new trade negotiations”to lower prices», «which means that, at the start of the school year in September-October, we will have — in any case that is my determination — broken the price spiral“. The main representative body of the agri-food industry, Ania, committed last week to the 75 largest companies in the sector reopening negotiations “Before the end of the month».

Since March 15 and for three months, most supermarkets have committed to selling a selection of products at the “lowest possible price“, formula leaving them a great freedom of maneuver. The objective for Bercy: to try to stem the galloping inflation on the shelves of supermarkets, still measured at nearly 16% over one year in March. As of May 11, Jacques Creyssel, general delegate of the Fédération du commerce et de la distribution (FCD), assured that distributors had “broadly agreed to the extension of anti-inflation operations“. System U CEO Dominique Schelcher announced that he was extending the anti-inflation quarter.until the end of the year».

According to the government,on average for the past seven weeks, the prices of products in the anti-inflation quarter have fallen by 13% in the basket“, an analysis qualified as”fakeby the influential consumer association UFC-Que Choisir, which says it has noted small price increases in several brands.

On the tax side, while Emmanuel Macron has promised 2 billion euros in tax cuts for the middle classes by 2027, Bruno Le Maire has indicated that he will “offers” from here “a few weeksand estimated that “announcements can be made in a few months». «We do what our public finances allow us to do and I think that 2 billion euros is already a significant sum“, he observed.