Economy minister warns France could ‘hit the wall’ as new figures show GDP contraction

France's economy contracted by 0.1% in Q3 2026, raising recession concerns and complicating government efforts to avoid a financial crisis. Minister Roland Lescure attributed the downturn to extreme summer heat and rising energy costs. He emphasized the need for lawmakers to approve the 2027 budget, which aims to reduce the deficit to 5% of GDP through €43 billion in savings.