In January 2012, households’ confidence is almost stableMonthly consumer confidence survey - January 2012
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 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.
Personal situation
Financial situation: slightly increasing
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.
Savings: slightly increasing too
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.
graphique Graph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableau Tab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 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 |
- (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).
Economic situation in France
General economic situation in France: still increasing
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.
Future unemployment: more optimistic expectations
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.
Inflation’s appreciation: decreasing anticipations
Households’ opinion about past inflation stabilized in January. Nevertheless, their forecasts about inflation decreased by 2 points with respect to December.
graphique Graph2_english – Balances on personnal financial situation and general economic situation
graphique chomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
graphique prix_en – Households' perception of prices
