At least part of the mystery of what French people are doing during isolation has been solved after a recent study revealed they are buying a lot less condoms and a record number of pregnancy tests.
Since isolation started due to the coronavirus, condom sales are in free fall in France, while pregnancy tests have hit a record high, according to a study by sales observation organisation Nielsen.
Before isolation, sales for both products had been steadily increasing, but as of 17th March, condom sales stagnated before falling up to 26 percent in the four following weeks.
Meanwhile, pregnancy test sales have ballooned since isolation started, with the week ending on 19th April showing a 37-percent increase.
Local media is speculating that despite all the deaths linked to the coronavirus, France could be on the verge of a baby boom, as couples have less of a need for condoms during isolation because they have had to pick their partners and stick with them.
However, the increase in pregnancy test sales can also be explained by the fact that 40 percent of French women reported having irregular periods in early April while 16 percent reported not having had theirs at all.
Time will tell if the baby boom theory materialises.
In the meantime, hair products and makeup sales have dropped 44 percent in France during isolation, while shoe polish is down 49 percent and Champagne has taken a 41-percent hit too.
Hygiene products like cleaning gloves have increased 136 percent.
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
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