France's GDP fell 5.8% in the first quarter, mainly due to the containment put in place to deal with the coronavirus, according to a first estimate from INSEE. This is the largest drop since the quarterly GDP assessments, started in 1949. 

French gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 5.8% in the first quarter due in particular to the containment in place since mid-March to stem the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a first estimate released on Thursday by the Insee.

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This is the largest decline in the history of quarterly GDP assessments started in 1949, and far exceeds the declines in the first quarter of 2009 (-1.6%) or the second quarter of 1968 (-5 , 3%), specifies INSEE.