France Says Second Lockdown Will Cut Economic Output by 15%

France is aiming to limit the drop in economic activity to 15% during the country’s second coronavirus lockdown starting on Friday, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in a government briefing on Thursday.

That would be half of the 30% drop in activity during the country’s first lockdown that started in March, which was caused in particular by a halt of construction work, Le Maire said.