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In February 2013, households’ confidence was stable

In February 2013, households’ confidence about the economic situation was stable: The synthetic confidence index remained at the level of December and January. It was still below its long term average.

Personal situation

Financial situation: slightly increasing

In February, households appreciation of their past financial situation slightly improved (+2 points), while their opinion on their future financial situation was almost stable (+1 point). Their opinion on the timeliness to make major purchases was also almost stable (–1 point). These three balances remained clearly below their long term averages.

Savings: decreasing

Households’ opinion about their current saving capacity gained two points in February. Their opinion about their savings capacity in the next 12 months was almost stable (+1 point).

On the other hand, households considered it less opportune than in January to save: the corresponding balance of opinion lost 5 points. It remained however clearly beyond its long–term average.

Consumer synthetic index

Consumer synthetic index
CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
Balance of responses, seasonally ajusted
(1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2012
(2) This indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2012).
2012 2013
Average (1) Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
Synthetic index (2) 100 84 86 86 86
Financial sit., past 12 m. –19 –31 –29 –29 –27
Financial sit., next 12 m. –4 –25 –23 –24 –23
Current saving capacity 8 18 18 19 21
Expected saving capacity –10 –1 –1 –1 0
Savings intentions, next 12 m. 18 37 37 35 30
Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. –14 –28 –28 –30 –31
General economic sit., past 12 m. –43 –73 –69 –68 –71
General economic sit., next 12 m. –23 –55 –53 –55 –55
Unemployment, next 12 m. 32 66 72 70 73
Consumer prices, past 12 m. –13 –1 –3 –7 –11
Consumer prices, next 12 m. –34 –14 –18 –19 –25

Economic situation in France

General economic situation in France: perception of the past decreasing, expectations stable

In February, households’ opinion about the past general economic situation in France decreased by –3 points, after two consecutive months of increase. Expected general economic situation was stable. These balances of opinion remained clearly below their long-term averages.

Future unemployment: expectations increasing anew

After a decrease in January (–2 points), households were more numerous in February to forecast an increase in unemployment (+3 points). The corresponding balance returned to its September 2012 level, the highest since July 2009, and remained widely above its long-term average.

Inflation’s appreciation: decreasing again

In February, households were more numerous than in January to estimate that past inflation declined (–4 points). This balance reached its lowel since May 2010. Their opinion about future inflation sharply decreased too (–6 points), a decrease by 11 points since November. Theses two balances remained however above their long-term averages.

Balances on personnal financial situation and general economic situation

Balances on personnal financial situation and general economic situation

Households' unemployment expectations

Households' unemployment expectations

Households' perception of prices

Households' perception of prices

Informations Rapides

n° 46 - February 27, 2013

Monthly consumer confidence survey - February 2013

Next issue June 27, 2013 08:45 - June 2013

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