-
La Voie Bleue: European Cycle Route of the Year is in France
700km bike path linking Luxembourg and Lyon has been crowned winner of the 2026 title
-
Before and after: Garonne river floods in south-west France
Satellite images show extent of flooding from back-to-back storms in February
-
Home insurance increases expected in France after floods
Compensation costs for the recent storms and flooding across the west and south-west is estimated to be in the billions of euros
Fears for Livret A 1% interest rate
Banque de France says 1% rate is too high when new inflation stats show French growth is sluggish
THE INTEREST rate on France's most popular tax-free savings account could be cut to a new record low next month.
The rate paid on the Livret A is tracked against inflation and new figures out this week show the French economy grew by 0.3% in the year to the end of June.
There are more than 61 million Livret A accounts open in France and they currently pay 1% interest - the lowest return since the scheme was created in 1818.
The governor of the Banque de France, Christian Noyer, says it is "unthinkable that the rate won't be reduced this year".
The decision on whether to change the rate is one for the government - and some economy-watchers are pointing to regional elections this December as a possible reason why they might leave the rate unchanged.
The low return is already encouraging savers to move their cash elsewhere. Last year €6.13billion was withdrawn from Livret A accounts.
