


BUSINESS BRIEFING
France gives OK to inflation relief
SAULIEU, France — French lawmakers Wednesday approved a $20.3 billion package of measures to help struggling households cope with rising energy and food prices.
The 395-112 vote came after a heated debate at the National Assembly, where French President Emmanuel Macron no longer has a majority.
The Senate also approved the text Wednesday night.
Annual inflation has reached a record 8.6% for the 19 countries using the shared euro currency, swollen by a huge increase in food and energy costs fueled partly by the war in Ukraine. In France, annual inflation is estimated to be running at 6.5%.
The bill includes increasing pensions and some welfare payments by 4%.