26 September 2013
2013- n° 220In September 2013, households’ confidence kept recovering (+1 point) Monthly consumer confidence survey - September 2013
In September 2013, households’ confidence kept improving. The synthetic confidence index gained 1 point compared with August, and increased by 6 points since its minimum in June.
In September 2013, households’ confidence kept improving. The synthetic confidence index gained 1 point compared with August, and increased by 6 points since its minimum in June.
Personal situation
Financial situation : expectations slightly increasing
In September, households’ appreciation of their future financial situation increased (+2 points) while their opinion on their past financial situation was stable. However, the balance of opinion on whether September was a suitable time to make major purchases decreased (-2 points). These three balances remained clearly below their long term averages.
Savings: decreasing
In September, households’ opinion about their saving capacity, both current and future, decreased (-3 points). These two balances remained above their long term average.
The share of households to consider September as opportune to save sharply increased (+8 point) after a significant decrease in August (-6 points). This balance remained distinctly above its long term average.
graphiqueGraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | June | July | August | Sept. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 79 | 82 | 84 | 85 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –35 | –34 | –33 | –33 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –27 | –25 | –22 | –20 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –6 | –2 | –2 | –5 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 31 | 30 | 24 | 32 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –34 | –28 | –29 | –31 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –43 | –80 | –77 | –73 | –73 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –67 | –58 | –50 | –47 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 79 | 62 | 60 | 51 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –12 | –8 | –1 | 3 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –18 | –17 | –22 | –25 |
- (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: expectations less concerned
In September, households’ opinion about the past general economic situation in France was stable. Their opinion on the expected general economic situation rose (+3 points): it has gained 20 points since June when it reached its lowest value. Nevertheless, these balances remained clearly below their long term averages.
Future unemployment: fears still decreasing
In September, households were less anxious about future employment. The corresponding balance lost 9 points with respect to August, and has lost 28 points since June. However, it remained above its long term average.
Inflation perceived as increasing again
In September, households were more numerous than in August to estimate that past inflation increased. The corresponding balance increased by 4 points, and by 20 points since May. However, households’ opinion about future inflation decreased (-3 points). Both balances remained above their 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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