Inflation in France is set to surpass 4 percent in March, according to the latest estimates from the national statistics institute Insee. The pace of price rises has already hit the highest level since 2008. The rising cost of living has become a central issue in the French presidential election campaign, with promises from candidates to cut taxes and raise wages to tackle it.
In the first of a series of special programmes looking at the economic issues in the campaign:
- Kate Moody examines the powers the French president has to tackle price rises.
- Economist Emmanuel Jessua from Rexecode puts the recent spike in prices in context of previous peaks in inflation, and discusses proposals from candidates to raise wages for French workers.
- Plus, Yinka Oyetade reports on how a shortage of skilled workers is adding to headaches for French businesses already facing skyrocketing energy bills.
