Inflation hits sales in France

A rise in inflation of two per cent in the last year has had a major impact on French consumers' shopping habits, according to Europe1.

An overall increase in prices has led to a decrease in sales of fruit and vegetables of four per cent since the start of the year, it revealed.

One Parisian grocer commented: 'Before, people came in and bought, for example, a pound of apples or a pound of bananas. Now they take a banana, an apple, an orange, individually.'

Experts are at a loss to explain the fall in sales, since prices in the sector have in fact remained stable. Moreover, food accounts for just 14 per cent of the household budget, according to the report.