Carrefour kutter mål etter demonstrasjoner

French supermarket chain Carrefour has revised its financial goals for 2026 due to social unrest in France. Bloomberg reports that the company cites lower customer traffic, reduced opening hours due to curfews, and higher security and logistics costs as reasons for the downgrade. Carrefour's Chief Administrative Officer, Alexandre Bompard, stated in a Tuesday statement that the group faces an unprecedented situation in France, with significant uncertainty about how consumers will behave in the future and whether stores can remain open as usual.

Bompard warns that the critical phase of the year for retail sales, which is already facing pressure from rising energy prices, will have major consequences for consumption. On Saturday, over half a million people across France protested against high living costs, but the demonstrations quickly turned into chaos as smaller groups attacked dozens of stores.

The police continued their operations on Sunday night, resulting in shop looting and multiple arrests in Paris. Earlier in October, when the government presented its 2027 budget proposal, the French Prime Minister warned that the country faces a serious debt crisis. The country's national debt stands at a staggering 3.595.5 billion euros, and rising interest rates make the debt even more expensive.

Central Bank Governor Emmanuel Moulin fears the consequences, stating that if no action is taken, there is a risk of gradually being crushed by rising interest rates, according to the Financial Times.