French administration concerned about economic impact of anti-government protests

Three weeks of "yellow vest" protests have dealt a serious blow to the French economy with retailers, hotel chains, high-street stores and restaurants all seeing a significant fall in trade, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday.

Speaking after a meeting with industry groups and business federations affected by the movement, Le Maire said sector revenues had been hit by between 15 and 50 per cent.

While he did not provide a precise breakdown, Le Maire said small retailers had seen a fall in revenue of between 20 and 40 per cent, the hotel industry was seeing reservations down 15 to 25 per cent and restaurants, depending on their location, had seen takings collapse by between 20 and 50 per cent.

"The impact is severe and ongoing," Le Maire said, emphasising that it was nationwide, although Paris, after riots and looting in some of its most upmarket districts on Saturday afternoon and evening, was particularly affected.

The finance ministry was not able to say what sort of impact the unrest would have on the gross domestic product.