After the sharp market downturn in Paris last weekend, with the Cac 40 lost nearly 7% in 48 hours, optimism is in order at the beginning of the week Award paris.le CAC 40 is up 0.89% to 3595 points.
On the macroeconomic front, gross domestic product (GDP) of France is expected to grow by 0.5% in first quarter 2010, according to a first estimate of the Banque de France (BdF) on Monday.
The latest forecast from the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE) published December 17, the economic recovery in France will confirm in early 2010 but will be "laborious and delicate, with a growth of around 0.3 % to 0.4% per quarter until midyear.
The government recently revised upward its growth forecast for this year, rose 0.75% to 1.4% in the revised budget.
INSEE has published Friday its first figures on French growth in the last quarter of 2009. The government forecasts a GDP drop of 2.25% over the last year.
The detailed values to follow.
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Five-star hotels in France? Yes, it is possible since the introduction in June by the government, a new classification. The list already has sixty places, especially in Paris, Courchevel and the Cote d'Azur. For hotels, a small revolution is underway. Their institutions were previously rated by criteria that had not changed since 1986 and they did not understand that the fifth star has long existed abroad. The world record is held even by a hotel worthy of megalomania, the Atlantis Palm in Dubai, which displays seven stars!
"In Portugal, there are 6 star hotels which are no better than our 4-star, said Georges Panayotis, founder of research firm and consultancy MKG.And even for congresses, the French destinations were penalized with no five-star hotels for VIPs. "
According to Hervé Novelli, Secretary of State for Tourism, some 200 hotels could eventually claim win five stars, including 30 to 40 with an additional distinction reserved for best of the best, the "palaces".
But the goal that the government had set, finished 2009 with a hundred five-star hotels will be missed. "The application process was somewhat longer than expected. But the candidates are there, "he defends one in the entourage of the Minister where there promised that the establishment of a new procedure will go faster next year.
"It's not very complicated to have the fifth star, half of the 750 four-star hotels can claim without doing much work, yet adds Georges Panayotis.But with the crisis, many are reluctant to ask. Applicants were fewer than expected. Be a candidate takes time and money. Vis-à-vis a business clientele, this is not the time to raise prices and display an image of luxury. Some employees have instructions from their companies do not reside in five star hotels. "
Then there are the unsuccessful applicants. Reportedly, about 15% of cases were retoques.Among the mandatory criteria, which require the most hoteliers questioned: the size of rooms, room service 24 hours on 24 or even the use of two languages by staff, including English.
A bid of 70 000 €
In the district of Saint-Germain-des-Pres in Paris, the Hotel Bel Ami (four stars) was in the starting blocks in the month of June to submit an application. He has still not done, but considering the first quarter of 2010. "Other priorities have taken over as the work of redecorating in a few rooms," says Vincent Tissier, Director General. But we remain candidates, while some of our competitors are reluctant because of the economy. "To comply with the new schedule, he has already made investments. He equipped the rooms with a service and an extra chair.It also increased the number of electrical outlets, bought lamps and roof rack. "For us it is an application to € 70 000," says Vincent Tissier.
The hotel part with a disability are 15 rooms for less than 24 square meters, the minimum area required. "We do not fulfill all mandatory criteria, but we have our chances because we can compensate this problem by gaining points optional," says its director. In Bel Ami, there is indeed "a spa, meeting rooms, a hall larger than the minimum required, a team of janitors, many more points for the fifth star. Whatever happens, Vincent Tissier is serene: "For teams, it would be a satisfaction. The U.S. travel agencies are also susceptible.But the provision of Bel Ami and its price will not change. "
Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris, the Fouquet's Barrière was among the first to win his fifth star in June For this, he installed air conditioning and WiFi in the restaurant Fouquet's classified and bought 27 blankets. The hotel was rated four-star luxury since its opening in October 2006. "As we were the last to arrive on the market, we wanted to be the first to have five-star hotel with a very good note," said Eric Boonstoppel, general manager of the Hotel Fouquet's Barrière. We have lost a few points marginalized because, for example, the telephone line is directly in the room on request. Vis-à-vis our international customers, visibility and legibility are important. But we do not mean increased prices.If the government wants to create a category "Premium" We are ready! "
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Five billion euros under the Christmas tree. This is the estimate by the Federation of e-commerce and distance selling (Fevad) for the raw end of year 2009 online sales. This represents an increase of 25% over the same period last year, a pace in line with that of the growth in the first nine months of this year (27%). These figures confirm a healthy e-commerce that does not suffer from the downturn.
If retailing is experiencing a decline of 2.5% of its business between January and September by the Bank of France, users keep themselves, morale and fever spendthrift. 88% of those who have already bought on the Internet for last Christmas even say they intend to spend as much or more this year, according Médiamétire.Among the preferred gifts, there are cultural products, games and toys, hi-tech, apparel, equipment for home and beauty products. According to GfK, the share of sales on the Internet for consumer electronics will reach 12% (against 6.6% in 2006) and the cultural products of the total 7.2% (against 4.6% in 2006).
Overall, electronic commerce should weigh around 25 billion euros in turnover this year. In comparison to 18.5 billion euros earned last year by supermarkets and hypermarkets in France Casino or 42 billion for Carrefour.Another point of comparison, sales of high-tech and Internet cultural approach of 3 billion euros this year, compared to 4.5 billion in sales of Fnac last year.
23 million buyers
The health sector due to the rapid development of habits. "We still have new customers because France is still playing catch up in equipment for homes, said Marc Lolivier, general delegate of the Fevad. Meanwhile, the number of commercial sites is growing rapidly, with two new every hour. "Overall, we approach the 60 000 sites of e-commerce assets. For "pure players" in the first hour followed by "order preparers' successor is currently a third wave of actors composed of large store chains that go into high gear on the Web.But even at constant perimeter, sales are up 6% in one year. The France now has 23 million online consumers, up from 43% in three years. Nearly seven in ten users have bought online. The trip, the high-tech and culture are the three main areas of e-commerce, joined forces in more recent fashion, household equipment and cosmetics.
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Gold, placing anti-crisis par excellence, in senators' crosshairs. Tenants of the Palais du Luxembourg in fact want to submit the sales of precious metals – gold, but silver jewelry and works of art to the general social contribution (CSG), revealed Thursday "Le Parisien". Supported by the Social Affairs Committee, but considered "difficult to implement technically" by the government, this new tax, which should be passed in the day aims to bridge the deficit in Social Security. In detail, if the measure is adopted as from 1 January next year, each transaction will be taxed to the tune of 8.2%. For example, the sale of a jewel worth 200 euros, Social Security will receive 16 euros CSG. With this new tax, the senators hope to get a "few million" each year.
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