In December 2011, households’ confidence about the economic situation increased slightly: the synthetic confidence index gained one point compared with December. It remains clearly below its long-term average.
In January, households appreciation of their past and future financial situation slightly increased: both corresponding balances gained 1 point each, standing at the level of November 2011.
Households’ opinion about their current saving capacity rose in January (+2 points), while the one about their savings capacity in the next 12 months slightly decreased.
Households considered it more opportune than in December to save: the corresponding balance of opinion increased by 1 point and went close to its long term average. So, households’ opinion on the timeliness to make major purchases lost 3 points with respect to December.
Consumer synthetic index

| Balance of responses, seasonally ajusted | |||||
| (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2011 | |||||
| (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). | |||||
| 2011 | 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average (1) | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Janv. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 84 | 81 | 80 | 81 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –18 | –28 | –29 | –30 | –29 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –3 | –24 | –28 | –29 | –28 |
| Current saving capacity | 12 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –9 | –13 | –13 | –14 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 20 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –23 | –27 | –26 | –29 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –41 | –74 | –75 | –74 | –72 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –56 | –63 | –61 | –57 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 34 | 59 | 69 | 69 | 66 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –17 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –21 | –10 | –12 | –14 |
In January, households’ opinion about the past and expected general economic situation in France rose again. After having increased respectively by 1 and 2 points in December, the corresponding balances gained 2 and 4 points. However, both balances of opinion remained clearly below their long-term averages.
In January, households were less numerous than in December to forecast an increase in unemployment. The level of this balance remained much higher than its long term average.
Households’ opinion about past inflation stabilized in January. Nevertheless, their forecasts about inflation decreased by 2 points with respect to December.
Balances on personnal financial situation and general economic situation

Households' unemployment expectations

Households' perception of prices

n° 30 - January 26, 2012
Monthly consumer confidence survey - January 2012
Next issue June 27, 2013 08:45 - June 2013
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