French bakery owners struggle as heating oil costs soar in rural France

In France, Kevin and Sandrine Luce run a bakery in Saint-Just-en-Chaussée, a small town north of Paris, and are struggling with soaring heating oil prices since the start of the Iran war on February 28. They paid 2,230 euros for 2,000 liters of oil in March, and now face much higher costs. The French government has offered a 450 million euro aid package, but many rural residents and businesses are still worried. Lawmaker Christine Loir is lobbying for lower taxes on heating oil. The Luces have kept their baguette prices unchanged to avoid betraying customers.