7 January 2014
2014- n° 1In December 2013, households’ confidence increased slightly (+1 point) Monthly consumer confidence survey - December 2013
In December 2013, households’ confidence increased slightly. The synthetic confidence index gained one point compared to November.
In December 2013, households’ confidence increased slightly. The synthetic confidence index gained one point compared to November.
Personal situation
Financial situation : almost stable
In December, households’ appreciation of their past financial situation was stable. Their opinion of their future financial situation was almost stable (–1 point). As many households as in November considered December as a suitable time to make major purchases. These three balances remained clearly below their long term average.
Savings: expectations holding steady
In December, households’ opinion about their future saving capacity was stable. Their opinion about their current saving capacity declined slightly (–2 points). These two balances remained above their long term average.
The share of households thinking it was an opportune time to save was almost stable in December: the corresponding balance gained 1 point, after falling by 16 points in November. It thus drew closer to its long term average.
graphiqueGraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average (1) | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 85 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –33 | –36 | –34 | –34 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –20 | –19 | –19 | –20 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –5 | 2 | –5 | –5 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 17 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –30 | –29 | –29 | –29 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –43 | –73 | –70 | –74 | –74 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –47 | –47 | –53 | –49 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 50 | 43 | 58 | 48 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | 2 | –6 | –5 | –5 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –23 | –21 | –22 | –17 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2013
- (2) This indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2013).
Economic situation in France
General economic situation in France: expectations improving
In December, households’ opinion about the future general economic situation in France improved: the corresponding balance gained 4 points compared to November. Their opinion about the past general economic situation was stable. These two balances remained distinctly below their long term average.
Future unemployment: fears receding
Households were once again less concerned regarding future employment. The corresponding balance lost 10 points in December, after rising by 15 points in November. It continued the downturn that began in the summer 2013 and amounted to 31 points below its level in June. However, it still stood above its long term average.
Inflation’s appreciation: stability
In December, households’ assessment of past inflation was stable. Nevertheless, more households than in November foresaw a rise in prices in 2014 (+5 points). Both balances remained above their long term average.
graphiqueGraph2_english – Balances on personal financial situation and general economic situation
graphiquechomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
graphiqueprix_en – Households' perception of prices
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