24 February 2011
2011- n° 50In February 2011, households’ confidence is stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - February 2011
In February 2011, household’s confidence about the economic situation is stable. The synthetic confidence index remains lower than its long term average.
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.
graphiqueGraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
2010 | 2011 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
- (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).
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.