26 March 2013
2013- n° 70In March 2013, households’ confidence decreased (-2 points) Monthly consumer confidence survey - March 2013
In March 2013, households’ confidence about the economic situation decreased: The synthetic confidence index lost 2 points, going back to last November’s level. It thus remained below its long term average.
In March 2013, households’ confidence about the economic situation decreased: The synthetic confidence index lost 2 points, going back to last November’s level. It thus remained below its long term average.
Personal situation
Financial situation: slightly decreasing
In March, households appreciation of their financial situation slightly decreased: the corresponding balances on past and future financial situation both lost 2 points. Their opinion on the timeliness to make major purchases was also almost stable (+1 point). These three balances remained clearly below their long term averages.
Savings: increasing
Households’ opinion about their current saving capacity was almost stable in March (-1 point). Their opinion about their savings capacity in the next 12 months lost 3 points.
On the other hand, households considered it more opportune than in February to save: the corresponding balance of opinion gained 6 points, going back to last December’s level. It remained however clearly beyond its long–term average.
graphiqueGraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2012 | 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average (1) | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | March | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 86 | 85 | 86 | 84 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –29 | –29 | –28 | –30 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –23 | –24 | –23 | –25 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –2 | –1 | 0 | –3 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 37 | 36 | 31 | 37 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –28 | –30 | –31 | –30 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –43 | –69 | –69 | –71 | –74 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –53 | –56 | –56 | –61 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 72 | 70 | 73 | 76 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –3 | –7 | –11 | –14 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –17 | –18 | –24 | –17 |
- (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: decreasing
In March, households’ opinion about the expected general economic situation in France decreased by 5 points, at its historically lowest level. Their opinion about past general economic situation also decreased, by 3 points. These balances of opinion remained clearly below their long-term averages.
Future unemployment: expectations increasing again
Households were more numerous in March to forecast an increase in unemployment. The corresponding balance gained 3 points again and reached its highest level since July 2009. It remained widely above its long-term average.
Inflation’s appreciation: past decreasing, expectations increasing
In March, households were less numerous than in February to estimate that past inflation increased. The corresponding balance lost 3 points, approaching its long-term average after a 17 points decrease since September 2012. However, their opinion about future inflation bounced by 7 points.
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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