The city's chief technology officer, Greg Meffert, told CNN on Wednesday that about 5, 800 homes across the city are "red-tagged, " meaning they suffered significant structural damage.

CNN: Protesters, workers clash in 9th Ward

If the FT's economics editor, Chris Giles, is right, the OBR is also likely to tell him (again) that the structural hole in the public finances is larger than previously thought, meaning even more austerity is required, well into the next parliament.

BBC: George Osborne chooses his words carefully

In November, rating agency Moody's downgraded France's debt from Aaa to Aa1, and kept its negative outlook, meaning the rating could be cut again, because of France's "persistent structural economic challenges" .

BBC: 'Bankrupt' France comments rebutted