29 October 2013
2013- n° 249In October 2013, households’ confidence remained stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - October 2013
In October 2013, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index remained at its September level.
In October 2013, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index remained at its September level.
Personal situation
Financial situation : worsening
In October, households’ appreciation of their past financial situation decreased (-3 points). Conversely, their opinion on their future financial situation was almost stable (+1 point). Households were more numerous than in September to consider October as a suitable time to make major purchases, the corresponding balance gained 2 points. These three balances remained clearly below their long term averages.
Savings: expectations sharply increasing
In October, households’ opinion about their current saving capacity remained constant. Their opinion about their future saving capacity markedly rose (+7 points). These two balances remained above their long term average.
After a surge in September (+8 points), the share of households to think it was an opportune time to save remained stable in October. This balance still stood above its long term average.
graphiqueGraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2013 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average (1) | July | August | Sept. | Oct. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 82 | 84 | 85 | 85 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –34 | –33 | –33 | –36 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –24 | –22 | –20 | –19 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –1 | –1 | –5 | 2 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 30 | 24 | 32 | 32 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –28 | –29 | –30 | –28 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –43 | –77 | –73 | –72 | –70 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –58 | –50 | –47 | –45 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 61 | 58 | 49 | 42 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –10 | –3 | 2 | –6 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –16 | –21 | –24 | –23 |
- (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: still improving
In October, households’ opinion about the general economic situation in France kept improving: both past and expected balances gained 2 points compared to September. These balances have been growing continuously since June, yet they remained distinctly below their long term average.
Future unemployment: fears decreasing again
Households were less concerned than in September about future employment. The October corresponding balance lost 7 points compared to August, which amounts to a loss of 37 points since June. However, it still stood above its long term average.
Inflation’s appreciation: declining
In October, households were less numerous than in September to estimate that past inflation increased: the corresponding balance decreased by 8 points. Households’ opinion about future inflation was almost stable in October (-1 point). 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
Pour en savoir plus
