PARIS ATTACKS HURT CAFE CULTURE

FRANCE’S ‘moribund’ economy has slowed even further in the aftermath of the terrorist atrocities in Paris.

Hotels and restaurants reported a wave of cancellations after the attacks on the French capital on November 13, which left 130 people dead and put the country in a state of emergency.

Research group Markit’s index of activity among private businesses, where scores above 50 show growth, slipped from 52.6 in October to a three-month low of 51 in November. France was the only country in the eurozone monitored by Markit to suffer a slowdown last month.

Growth in Germany was the fastest for eight months, while the recovery in Italy, Spain and Ireland also picked up. Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: ‘With the exception of France, growth rates are moving higher. Business activity [in France] remains moribund.’