Protests against inflation and the rising cost of living in France have escalated into violence. According to international media reports, masked individuals forced their way into stores belonging to several famous luxury brands during the unrest. Apple, Hermès and Louis Vuitton were among the businesses affected. The intruders ransacked shelves and display cases inside the shops. The demonstrations were organized nationwide to voice anger over prices and the growing burden of everyday expenses. Paris, home to some of the world's most expensive retail streets, counts among the affected cities. Luxury flagship stores tend to draw the anger of crowds protesting inequality because they visibly represent concentrated wealth. The initial reports do not detail the scale of the losses for the affected chains.