How significantly have air conditioner sales increased in France?

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Air conditioner sales in France have surged to record levels during the heatwave.
France’s air conditioner and fan sales have skyrocketed as the country experiences an unprecedented heatwave, with the national temperature indicator reaching 29.8C on Tuesday, the hottest since records began in 1947. Retailers reported sharp jumps in demand, including Carrefour selling 30,000 units by 6:30 pm on Monday—described as “a thousand times more than on a normal day”—and an electrician in south-west France saying he was overwhelmed by “emergency” air-conditioning installation requests.
The temperature backdrop driving demand
The heatwave is pushing temperatures to extreme levels, with France’s national temperature indicator at 29.8C on Tuesday, the highest since 1947. The broader alert situation means large parts of the country are under the highest heat warning categories, with AFP calculations saying 44 million people are affected and more than 90 per cent of the French population is exposed to extreme heat.
Carrefour’s unit sales show the scale of the increase
Carrefour, a hypermarket operator, sold 30,000 units by 6:30 pm on Monday. The company’s chief executive, Alexandre Bompard, characterised this as “a thousand times more than on a normal day”, indicating a dramatic spike compared with typical sales patterns.
Retail demand is echoed by electronics and online sales
Sales of fans and air conditioners have surged in France, where many buildings are not designed for extreme heat. In addition to Carrefour’s jump, electronics outlet Fnac Darty reported double-digit growth in sales, while sales on Amazon nearly doubled last week compared with the same period in 2025.
On-the-ground installation requests reflect the same spike
Beyond retail figures, demand is also showing up in installation work. Thierry, an electrician in south-west France, said he was overwhelmed by requests for “emergency” air-conditioning installations, noting that in residential complexes people are expected to submit requests through an owners’ association general meeting, but many do not want to wait.

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How significantly have air conditioner sales increased in France?

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