No cigarette price rise until autumn

THE FRENCH government has decided to postpone its next cigarette and tobacco price rise for three months - with an increase now planned for October instead of July.

Les Echos reports that an agreement was reached with the cigarette industry, after figures showed takings fell 2.5% in the first quarter of 2013 - the first decline in a decade.

The paper says neither the government nor manufacturers want to see the value of cigarette sales decline.

The last price rise was in October 2012, when the cheapest packet of 20 went up to €6.10.

Cigarette sales, by value, have not declined since 2003, when a major rise in taxes saw prices grow by 40% in a few months.