Under the effect of the coronavirus, the first quarter of 2020 saw the destruction of 453,800 jobs in the private sector, a decrease of 2.3% compared to the previous quarter, according to a provisional estimate from INSEE. Over one year, the decline is 1.4% (-274,900 jobs), with a fall in market services and a dip in temporary work. All in all, this is the "lowest level since the third quarter of 2017", according to INSEE.
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1.7 billion trade deficit in one month
Containment measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus also caused a sharp reduction in the French trade deficit in March, the fall in imports being greater than that in exports, Customs announced in a statement on Thursday. The trade deficit reached 3.3 billion euros in March, 1.7 billion less than in February.