Bruno Le Maire, who holds the portfolios of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty in France, projected that consumer inflation could be cut by about half in 2024. This outlook was shared on France Inter, a major radio outlet in the country.
According to the minister, the recent period of inflationary pressure is largely behind France, with expectations that price growth will ease as the year progresses. He suggested that the trend is moving toward stability after a phase of sustained increases across multiple sectors, including energy, housing, and essential goods.
He affirmed that the government is aiming for a figure just above 2 percent in 2024 and believes that the economy will return to historical norms after the disruption caused by successive price shocks. The minister emphasized that the path to this normalization required significant policy actions and structural adjustments over the past two years, recalling prior episodes where inflation surged during difficult decades in the country’s economic history.
Le Maire noted that certain risk factors remain, such as persistent energy price volatility and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could influence the speed and depth of the inflation decline. He cautioned that these external pressures might still affect households and businesses, potentially slowing the pace of price normalization if energy costs spike again or supply disruptions occur.
Earlier, Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne, speaking to Le Parisien, indicated that the government is prepared to consider temporary measures to curb inflation, including targeted interventions in the fuel market to relieve consumer cost pressures when necessary. This approach reflects a broader willingness to explore short-term interventions aligned with long-term price stability goals.
In a separate international development, Niger was reported to have deprived the French ambassador of diplomatic immunity, a move that underscores ongoing diplomatic frictions in the region. This development sits in the context of a wider conversation about bilateral ties and the geopolitical landscape that can indirectly influence economic policy and market confidence in France’s global standing.