In February 2011, households’ confidence is stable

In February 2011, household’s confidence about the economic situation is stable. The synthetic confidence index remains lower than its long term average.

Personnal situation

Financial situation : slightly improving

In February, households appreciation of their past financial situation is stable while their expectations gain 2 points, Households’ opinion on the timeliness to make major purchases also gains 2 points.

Savings : slightly deteriorating

Households’ opinion about their current saving capacity deteriorates (–2 points) and remains above its long term value.

Households appreciation of their savings capacity in the next 12 months also loses 2 points.

Nevertheless, the opinion on the timeliness for savings gains 1 point and remains above its long term average.

Consumer synthetic index

CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
		2010		2011
Balance of responses, seasonally ajusted
(1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2010
(2) This indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2010).
	Average (1)	Nov.	Dec.	Jan.	Feb.
Synthetic index (2)	100	89	86	85	85
Financial sit., past 12 m.	–17	–21	–24	–25	–25
Financial sit., next 12 m.	–2	–13	–18	–21	–19
Current saving capacity	11	18	15	15	13
Expected saving capacity	–9	–11	–10	–11	–13
Savings intentions, next 12 m.	20	25	23	22	23
Major purchases intentions, next 12 m.	–13	–20	–21	–23	–21
General economic sit., past 12 m.	–40	–65	–69	–70	–67
General economic sit., next 12 m.	–21	–44	–47	–49	–49
Unemployment, next 12 m.	33	46	45	47	51
Consumer prices, past 12 m.	–19	–8	–2	8	16
Consumer prices, next 12 m.	–35	–21	–18	–15	–7

Economic situation in France

General economic situation in France : improving

Households opinion about the past general economic situation in France gains 3 points while expectations are stable. These balances remain below their long term average.

Future unemployment: picks up

In February, households are more numerous than in January to forecast an increase in unemployment, the corresponding balance gains 4 points. This balance of opinion is notably above its long term value.

Inflation’s appreciation: sharp increase

In February, households report that past inflation has sharply increased (+8 points). Moreover, the expected inflation balance of opinion also increases by 8 points. These two balances are much higher than their long term average.

Balances on personnal financial situation and general economic situation