26 July 2013
2013 - n° 177In July 2013, households’ confidence bounced (+3 points) Monthly consumer confidence survey - July 2013
In July 2013, households’ confidence bounced. The synthetic confidence index gained 3 points compared with June.
In July 2013, households’ confidence bounced. The synthetic confidence index gained 3 points compared with June.
Personal situation
Financial situation : slightly increasing
In July, households’ appreciation of their past financial situation was almost stable (+1 point). Their opinion on their future financial situation increased slightly (+2 points). Households were more numerous than in June to consider July as a suitable time to make major purchases (+6 points), the corresponding balance recovered last year’s end level. These three balances remained clearly below their long term averages.
Savings: sharply increasing
In July, households’ opinion about their current saving capacity gained 5 points, reaching its maximum of February. Their opinion about their savings capacity in the next 12 months gained 5 points as well, remaining considerably above its long term average.
In July, the part of households to consider it opportune to save was almost stable (+1 point). This balance stood distinctly above its long term average.
graphique Graph1_english – Consumer synthetic index

tableau Tab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
2013 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average (1) | April | May | June | July | |
Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 84 | 79 | 79 | 82 |
Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –27 | –37 | –35 | –34 |
Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –25 | –28 | –28 | –26 |
Current saving capacity | 8 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 19 |
Expected saving capacity | –10 | –4 | –2 | –6 | –1 |
Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –29 | –32 | –33 | –27 |
General economic sit., past 12 m. | –43 | –76 | –79 | –80 | –78 |
General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –62 | –64 | –66 | –60 |
Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 73 | 78 | 82 | 65 |
Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –15 | –18 | –13 | –9 |
Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –21 | –17 | –17 | –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: on the upswing
In July, households’ opinion about the past general economic situation in France increased (+2 points). Their opinion on the expected general economic situation noticeably rose (+6 points), after a continuous deterioration since January. Nevertheless, these balances remained clearly below their long term averages.
Future unemployment: fears decreasing
In July, households were largely less numerous than in June to forecast an increase in unemployment. The corresponding balance lost 17 points and reached its lowest level since June 2012. However, it remained above its long term average.
Inflation’s appreciation: increasing anew
In July, households were more numerous than in June to estimate that past inflation increased. The corresponding balance increased by 4 points and went above its long term average. Households’ opinion about future inflation was however almost stable (+1 point) and remained above its long term average.
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
