28 May 2013
2013- n° 122In May 2013, households’ confidence declined again (-4 points) Monthly consumer confidence survey - May 2013
In May 2013, households’ confidence about the economic situation strongly declined. The synthetic confidence index lost 4 points, falling to its lowest level previously reached in July 2008.
In May 2013, households’ confidence about the economic situation strongly declined. The synthetic confidence index lost 4 points, falling to its lowest level previously reached in July 2008.
Personal situation
Financial situation: slumping
In May, households appreciation of their past financial situation slightly fell by 10 points. Their opinion on their future financial situation also declined, but less (–3 points). Moreover, households were less numemous to find May as a suitable time to make major purchases (–3 points). These three balances remained clearly below their long term averages.
Savings: almost stable
In May, households’ opinion about their current saving capacity was almost stable (–1 point). Their opinion about their savings capacity in the next 12 months slightly recovered (+2 points).
Households were almost as numerous in May as in April to think that it was a suitable moment to save. The corresponding balance was almost stable (–1 point), and remained clearly beyond its long–term average.
graphiqueGraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average (1) | Feb. | March | April | May | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 86 | 83 | 83 | 79 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –27 | –30 | –28 | –38 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –23 | –25 | –25 | –28 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 14 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | 0 | –3 | –4 | –2 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 30 | 36 | 31 | 30 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –31 | –31 | –30 | –33 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –43 | –72 | –74 | –76 | –79 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –56 | –61 | –63 | –65 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 73 | 77 | 75 | 81 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –12 | –14 | –17 | –20 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –23 | –16 | –22 | –16 |
- (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).
Economic situation in France
General economic situation in France: decreasing again
In May, households’ opinion about the expected general economic situation in France decreased again (–2 points), and reaching a new historically lowest level. Their opinion about past general economic situation also decreased (–3 points). It remained clearly below its long-term average.
Future unemployment: expectations increasing
In May, households were more numerous to forecast an increase in unemployment: the corresponding balance gained 6 points with respect to april and reached its highest level since June 2009.
Inflation’s appreciation: decreasing, but increasing expectations
In May, households were more numerous than in April to estimate that past inflation decreased. The corresponding balance lost 3 points, and 24 points with respect to September 2012. However, households were more numerous to estimate that future inflation will increase (+6 points). The corresponding balance remained above its long-term average.
graphiqueGraph2_english – Balances on personnal financial situation and general economic situation
graphiquechomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
graphiqueprix_en – Households' perception of prices
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