27 March 2012
2012- n° 77In March 2012, households’ confidence markedly increased Monthly consumer confidence survey - March 2012
In March 2012, households’ confidence about the economic situation markedly increased: the synthetic confidence index gained five points compared with February. Recovering its February 2011 level, it remained however clearly below its long-term average.
In March 2012, households’ confidence about the economic situation markedly increased: the synthetic confidence index gained five points compared with February. Recovering its February 2011 level, it remained however clearly below its long-term average.
Personal situation
Financial situation: increasing
In March, households appreciation of their past and future financial situation increased. The corresponding balances rose respectively by 3 and 7 points. Their major purchases intentions were stable compared with February.
Savings: decreasing
Households’ opinion about their current saving capacity decreased by 3 points with respect to February. Their opinion about their savings capacity in the next 12 months were stable.
Moreover, households considered it less opportune than in February to save (-2 points).
graphiqueGraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2011 | 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average (1) | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 81 | 82 | 82 | 87 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –18 | –30 | –29 | –31 | –28 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –3 | –29 | –27 | –25 | –18 |
| Current saving capacity | 12 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –13 | –14 | –12 | –12 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 20 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 22 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –26 | –29 | –24 | –24 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –41 | –73 | –72 | –75 | –66 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –60 | –56 | –51 | –39 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 34 | 68 | 65 | 63 | 57 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –17 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 9 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –12 | –15 | –14 | –22 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2011
- (2) This indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2011).
Economic situation in France
General economic situation in France: sharply increasing
In March, households’ opinion about the expected general economic situation in France rocketed (+12 points), so it gained a total of 24 points since November 2011, its lowest historical level. The opinion about the past general economic situation sharply improved too (+9 points). Nevertheless, both balances remained clearly below their long-term average.
Future unemployment: expectations decreasing
In March, households were less numerous than in February to forecast an increase in unemployment. This balance of opinion lost 6 points, remaining however much higher than its long-term average.
Inflation’s appreciation: sharply decreasing
In March, households considered that past inflation was less high than what they had perceived in February. Their forecasts about future inflation sharply decreased with respect to February too (-8 points). The corresponding balance reached its lowest level since November 2010.
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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