A busy day in France: the high school movement is spreading to new schools, inflation is back above 3%, and the government is detailing its budget savings, particularly on pensions. Here are the key facts to know for your daily life.
【High school blockades: 625 arrests and 119 injured】
The high school blockades are growing. On Wednesday, September 30, at a press conference, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced 625 arrests and 356 schools affected by disruptions. "We are seeing the movement spread," he said, according to France Info and Le Monde.
Actions took place at schools in Île-de-France, in Lyon, Strasbourg and Nice. According to Le Monde, the main union is calling for the movement to continue and is requesting a meeting with the education minister.
The Education Ministry announced that 119 students and staff members have been injured since the movement began. Le Parisien reports that a student was hospitalized in Tours and that 75 schools in the Paris region were mobilized on Wednesday.
Read on France Info · Read on Le Monde · Read on Le Parisien
【Inflation above 3% in September】
Inflation topped 3% in September, according to Insee, France Info reports. Prices rose sharply for fresh produce and energy, two items that weigh heavily on household budgets.
This acceleration in prices is pushing some consumers to change their spending habits in order to preserve their purchasing power, the same article notes.
【2027 budget: retirees asked to contribute】
The government is planning 54 billion euros in budget efforts nationwide next year, according to France Info. The minister for public accounts, David Amiel, unveiled some of the final decisions on pensions and tax credits.
Retirees will indeed be asked to contribute: pensions above 1,260 euros a month would get a smaller increase, while "the smallest pensions must be fully protected," according to France Info. Le Parisien, for its part, reports that the government wants to save 5.5 billion euros on pensions in the 2027 budget.
Read on France Info · Read on Le Parisien
【More than 200,000 civil servants take to the streets】
More than 200,000 civil servants demonstrated to vent their frustration over "low pay," according to Le Parisien. The mobilization led to 440 arrests, the same newspaper reports.
【Christmas train tickets: sales are open】
Train ticket sales for the year-end holidays began on the morning of Wednesday, September 30, at SNCF, France Info reports. For those who haven't booked yet, prices are said to be better during the first days of sales, according to the France Info teams who checked the fares.
【Costly fuel: used electric cars on the rise】
With fuel prices soaring, drivers are turning more and more to used electric cars, whose sales have risen, according to France Info. "Given the price of fuel, it's getting complicated," says a driver quoted by the outlet. With greater demand, prices for these vehicles are rising too.
【Oil: traffic resumes in the Strait of Hormuz, without Europe】
Oil traffic is resuming in the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman, at more than 90% of pre-war volumes, according to several experts cited by France Info. For now, however, Europe is not benefiting from it, the outlet notes, amid persistently high fuel prices.