Bruno Le Maire confirms the extension of the anti-inflationary quarter, which becomes a semester

The anti-inflationary quarter in supermarkets “obviously” will extend “by a quarter”, confirmed the Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, reiterating his “determination” to “stop the price spiral” before the fall and promising “within a few weeks” proposals for tax cuts.

Anti-inflationary quarter becomes semester

Since March 15 and for three months, most supermarkets have committed to selling a selection of products at the “lowest possible price”, a formula that leaves them great freedom of manoeuvre.

Bercy’s goal: try to rein in runaway inflation on supermarket shelves, still measured at nearly 16% a year in March.

Bruno Le Maire thanks the industrialists

Bruno Le Maire also “thanked” the agri-food manufacturers for having accepted new trade negotiations “to lower prices”, “which means that, at the beginning of the school year in September-October, we will have — in any case it is my determination: broke the price spiral.

The main representative body of the agri-food industry, Ania, promised last week that the 75 largest companies in the sector reopen negotiations “before the end of the month.”

Until May 11, Jacques Creyssel, general delegate of the Federation of Commerce and Distribution (FCD), had assured that the distributors “had given their general agreement to the extension of anti-inflationary operations.”

System U CEO Dominique Schelcher announced that he would extend the anti-inflation quarter “through the end of the year.”

According to the government, “on average for the past seven weeks, the prices of products in the anti-inflationary quarter have fallen by 13% in the basket,” an analysis described as “false” by the influential consumer association UFC-Que Choisir, which said it had noticed small price increases on several brands.

On the fiscal side, while Emmanuel Macron has promised 2,000 million euros in tax cuts for the middle classes until 2027, Bruno Le Maire has indicated that he will make “proposals” within “a few weeks” and has estimated that “the announcements could be made “. In a few months”.