The protests, which fall on Halloween, come after riots and looting on October 17 caught security forces off guard, leaving a trail of damage to shops, public buildings and businesses across the country.
France's top administrative court on Saturday upheld a ban on a march between the landmark Paris squares of Nation and Bastille, rejecting a challenge from unions. Authorities instead authorised a route along boulevards on the eastern edge of the capital, away from central shopping districts.
The marches brought together students - whose mobilisation began in September - trade unions and a smaller contingent of Yellow Vest protesters, united by complaints over the cost of living, high fuel prices, rising inflation and President Emmanuel Macron's government.
"The French economy is doing badly no matter what happens, because today we're being run by a group of incompetents who juggle billions, while families are struggling with a few cents," protester Jerome Rodriguez said during the Paris march.
"That's why we're here, to keep shouting our demands louder and louder and hopefully get a response from the government, although that seems very unlikely."
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, whose ratings have risen in recent weeks ahead of next April's presidential election, marched at the head of the Paris demonstration.
Demonstrations were largely peaceful through the afternoon, though police fired tear gas in Lyon, France's third-largest city, and Toulouse in the southwest, while tension also broke out at the end of the march in Marseille.
Authorities have warned that Halloween masks could be used to conceal the identities of troublemakers. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has vowed to prevent a repeat of the October 17 violence, noting that existing laws allow police to prohibit face coverings when public order is threatened.
Some 150 gatherings were planned nationwide, the interior ministry said. Initial turnout appeared lower than at the previous Saturday's protests, it said.
The unrest comes at a delicate moment for the government. On Friday, ratings agency Fitch unexpectedly revised the outlook on French debt to negative, underscoring investor concerns over the country's finances. With public debt nearing 120 per cent of economic output and borrowing costs rising, Macron's government faces mounting pressure to curb spending, limiting its room for manoeuvre.
The US Embassy advised travellers to avoid areas where demonstrations or large gatherings were planned.
The unrest comes at a delicate moment for the government. On Friday, ratings agency Fitch unexpectedly revised the outlook on French debt to negative, underscoring investor concerns over the country's finances. With public debt nearing 120 per cen of economic output and borrowing costs rising, Macron's government faces mounting pressure to curb spending, limiting its room for manoeuvre.
