During a meeting of the Gard Entreprises association, Nathalie Ravet, director of the Banque de France du Gard, presented a macroeconomic overview of businesses in the region. The event attracted a large audience, mainly composed of business leaders, who followed this analysis attentively.
“We have won the battle of inflation”, declared Nathalie Ravet, emphasizing that the inflation rate is now 2.2% compared to 10% two years ago. She specified that the mission of the Banque de France is to maintain this inflation at a stable level of 2%.
The reduction in key rates should also lead to a reduction in interest rates, thus promoting economic recovery. Nathalie Ravet recalled that the bank governors of European Union countries meet every six weeks to adjust these rates according to changes in inflation.
Regarding gross domestic product (GDP), she noted that France is catching up compared to its main European neighbors. Although inflation is falling on average, the perception of the French remains worrying. Many believe that their purchasing power is decreasing, due to the rise in prices of basic necessities such as fuel, baguettes and ham.
The latter particularly suffered with a sharp increase in prices, putting pork farms in difficulty, largely due to the increase in raw materials linked to the war in Ukraine.
The impact of the Olympic Games on French GDP has been positive, but certain sectors, such as tourism, are still experiencing fluctuations. Philippe Lopez, creator of Dinopédia, reported a drop in attendance of 30% during the first half of August, followed by an increase of 20% in the last two weeks of the month.
Political and economic uncertainty is pushing the French to save, with a savings rate reaching 17%, which has the effect of reducing consumption. In Occitania, the volume of activity is slowing down in almost all sectors, with the exception of aeronautics. Companies, particularly in transport and hotels, are facing cash flow problems, while the building and public works (BTP) sector is struggling with few new constructions and falling orders for 2025.
At the conclusion of her speech, Nathalie Ravet presented her successor, Patrice Saulnier, as well as her deputy, Claire Cavailles. Jean-Pierre de Faria, on behalf of Gard Entreprises, thanked Nathalie Ravet for her commitment to businesses and wished her every success in her new role at Paris Bastille.
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