France to allow filling stations to sell petrol at a loss to combat inflation

The French government wants to allow petrol stations to sell gas at a loss in order to lower the cost at the pump for users, without resorting to subsidies, as it did last year. © Philippe Lopez/AFP

France is set to loosen a 1963 law forbidding the sale of petrol at a loss in order to help fight inflation, as prices at the pump hover around two euros a litre.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the government would enable stations to sell petrol at a loss for a few months to allow them to lower their prices.