28 August 2018
2018- n° 222In August 2018, households' confidence remained stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - August 2018
In August 2018, households' confidence in the economic situation was stable: the synthetic index remained at 97. Thus, it stands below its long term average (100) for the fourth consecutive month.
In August 2018, households' confidence in the economic situation was stable: the synthetic index remained at 97. Thus, it stands below its long term average (100) for the fourth consecutive month.
graphiqueGraph1 – Consumer confidence synthetic index
- Source: INSEE
Personal situation
Expected personal financial situation: virtual stability
In August, households' balances of opinion on their past personal situation was virtually stable slightly (–1 point) and the one on their excepted financial situation was unchanged. Both balances stand below their long term average.
The share of households considering it is a suitable time to make major purchases was stable. The corresponding balance stands above its long term average.
Expected saving capacity: clear rise
In August, the share of households considering it a suitable time to save increased clearly. The corresponding balance gained 4 points after three month of stability but remains below its long term average.
Households' opinion balance on their expected saving capacity slightly decreased: it declined by 2 points after a six-point gain in July. Yet, it stands above its long term average. Households' opinion balance on their current saving capacity remained unchanged and stands slightly above its long term average.
graphiqueGraph2 – Balances on personal financial situation and standard of living in France
- Source: INSEE
Economic situation in France
Future standard of living in France: improvement
In August, households have been more optimistic about the future standard of living in France: the corresponding balance has gained 3 points but remains slighty below its long term average. The share of households considering that the past standard of living in France improved during the last twelve months remains unchanged. The corresponding balance is at its long term average.
Unemployment: fears increasing strongly
Households' fears about the unemployment trend have substantially increased in August: the corresponding balance has gained 9 points, hereby reaching its higher level since November 2016. However, the balance stays below its long term average.
graphiqueGraph3 – Households' unemployment expectations
- Source: INSEE
Inflation: opinion balances almost unchanged
In August, households considering that prices will be on the rise during the next twelve months were almost as numerous as the previous month. The corresponding balance has lost 1 point for the fourth consecutive month. It remains however above its long term average. Households were also as numerous as the previous month to consider that prices were on the rise during the last twelve months: the corresponding balance has gained 1 point but stands below its long term average.
graphiqueGraph4 – Households' perception of prices
- Source: INSEE
tableauTable – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| Avg. (1) | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 99 | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –21 | –25 | –27 | –28 | –29 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –5 | –12 | –13 | –11 | –11 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Expected saving capacity | –9 | –4 | –8 | –2 | –4 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 17 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –5 | –9 | –8 | –8 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –45 | –40 | –44 | –45 | –45 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –25 | –27 | –31 | –31 | –28 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 34 | 2 | 17 | 14 | 23 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –17 | –30 | –26 | –27 | –26 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –19 | –20 | –21 | –22 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2017
- (2) The indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987–2017).
- Source: INSEE, monthly consumer confidence survey
Pour en savoir plus
