Private sector activity in France collapsed in March to an unprecedented level because of the Covid-19 epidemic, according to the firm IHS Markit, whose indicator published on Friday shows a worsening compared to its previous one. Evaluation.
Read also: Amazon workers increasingly worried at work to deliver "massage oils and video games"
The composite index of global activity fell to 28.9 points, against 52 in February, according to Markit, who had, on March 24, evaluated this index at 30.2 points. An index higher than 50 indicates an expansion, an index lower than this limit indicates a contraction of the activity.
According to Markit, this is the largest contraction in the French economy in one month since the date on which it started publishing its indicator, May 1998.
" This collapse in overall activity reflects the cessation of business activity and the dizzying drop in demand related to the spread of Covid-19 worldwide, " the firm said in a statement.
The fall in activity is particularly strong in services, with an indicator of commercial activity which fell from 52.5 in February to 27.4 in March. The manufacturing industry is not outdone, even if it is less affected, according to Markit.
Read also: Coronavirus: French industry is gradually getting back into working order
This situation cannot improve " as long as the containment and closure of establishments imposed by the various governments persist ," said Eliot Kerr, economist at IHS Markit and quoted in the press release.
He therefore considers it " essential " to put in place " effective tax measures intended to stem the wave of job losses that has started in recent weeks ".
