The employers’ organization of Saône et Loire had planned a face-to-face meeting with Olivia Grégoire, Minister Delegate in charge of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Trade, Crafts and Tourism… but a change in the ministerial agenda came jeopardize maintenance.
Christophe Maurel, Departmental Director of the Banque de France and Olivier Tainturier, Sub-prefect of the district of Chalon sur Saône, nevertheless insisted on maintaining their presence with business leaders and members of the CPME. A way of listening attentively to feedback from those who drive the French economy.
Energy crisis, employment contracts… Clarisse Maillet, President of the CPME Saône et Loire, had no shortage of files at hand, given the somewhat anxiety-provoking situation of the moment.
Christophe Maurel recalled the organization of the provision of Banque de France services to entrepreneurs in Saône and Loire, emphasizing that at the rate of days a week, the premises of the Sub-prefecture of Chalon serve as an annex to the Bank of France. It was also a question of keeping entrepreneurs informed in real time of the various economic situation reports, with the publication of regional trends each month. A survey carried out from the consultation of 600 business leaders each month. A precise way to take the pulse of the economic situation in each living area.
“We have fewer availability problems on raw materials”
Olivier Tainturier wanted to be reassuring even if no one is able to know what sauce we will be eating this winter, depending on how harsh the winter is or not. However, on the issues of raw materials and given the latest trends, the Sub-Prefect wanted to emphasize “that prices have stopped climbing. There are fewer problems with the availability of raw materials. The indicators are generally good although many problems remain. On the issue of building and public works, the Sub-prefect underlined “order books which do not exceed 6-month projections”. A change of equation for a sector of activity that used to have a long-term vision. “What prices are charged, what availability of raw materials? We must admit that it remains complicated even if we tend towards the best” for the representative of the State.
The end of a very accommodating policy on interest rates?
Christophe Maurel made a point of recalling the government’s objectives in terms of the fight against galloping inflation. “The idea being to return to inflation at 2% and regain normality. Should we raise rates? We cannot rule it out,” warned the director of the Banque de France. A situation that mobilizes all state services while inflation of 4.7% in 2023 is clearly mentioned. A situation that depends closely on the evolution of energy prices.
“The state is there and protects you” hammered Olivier Tainturier, aware of the legitimate concerns of entrepreneurs, who hoped for a lull after the years of Yellow Vests and the two years of health crisis. “We are in a period of uncertainty with big clouds, the slowdown in the economy is in everyone’s mind and in particular that of China and that the German economy is running out of steam”.
Laurent Guillaume