France still shows a capacity few European countries retain: taking to the streets en masse over the cost of living, public services and the economic conditions of families. On Saturday, October 24, demonstrations brought together 410,000 people according to the Interior Ministry and around 800,000 according to the CGT union. The turnout stayed strong, while the damage to shops was far more limited than the week before.
On October 17, across Marseille, Bordeaux, Paris, Lyon and other French cities, looting and vandalism hit roughly 1,500 businesses. The French federation of commerce and distribution estimated damages at several hundred million euros. Neighbourhood shops, boutiques, pharmacies and jewellers were robbed or wrecked; phones, computers and branded clothing were among the items targeted.
Those marching to defend their purchasing power should not be confused with those who used the protest as cover to loot. But a bitter contradiction remains: among those paying the price are shopkeepers who face the same rising costs the demonstrators are protesting against. For them the damage does not end with the stolen goods: there are windows to repair, days of closure, work to rebuild, and payouts that depend on individual insurance policies.
The following Saturday many shops chose to protect themselves. In Bordeaux some storefronts were covered with panels; in Marseille, in the area hit on October 17, many facades were still boarded up. Images that speak to the fear of those who live off retail and wait for the weekend to work.
France is also an important market for Italy. In 2025 Italian exports to the country reached about €65 billion, up 5.3% on the previous year; clothing and leather goods are among the products sold. It is too early to attribute any measurable effect on Italian industrial districts to these days of unrest, but the trade relationship is a reminder of how closely tied the two economies are.
Support measures for shopkeepers can help them reopen. What remains is the problem that brought so many people into the streets: when the cost of living weighs on families, retail feels it too, from small businesses to shopping streets.
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Alessandro Sicuro
Brand Strategist | Photographer | Art Director | Project Manager
Alessandro Sicuro Comunication
