26 September 2014
2014- n° 223In September 2014, households’ confidence remained stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - September 2014
In September 2014, households’ confidence remained stable. The synthetic confidence index has been at the same level since July. It remained significantly below its long-term average.
In September 2014, households’ confidence remained stable. The synthetic confidence index has been at the same level since July. It remained significantly below its long-term average.
Personal situation
Financial situation: almost stable
In September, households’ opinion of their future financial situation was almost stable (–1 point). Their appreciation of their past financial situation improved slightly (+2 points).
The share of households to consider it was a suitable time to make major purchases was almost stable (–1 point).
These three balances remained clearly below their long term average.
Future saving capacity: declining
In September, households’ opinion of their future saving capacity deteriorated (–3 points). Their opinion of their current saving capacity was almost stable (–1 point). These two balances remained above their long-term average.
The share of households to consider it was an opportune time to save was stable in September. It remained slightly below its long-term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer confidence synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2014 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 86 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –36 | –33 | –33 | –31 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –20 | –18 | –20 | –21 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | –2 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –25 | –27 | –27 | –28 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –43 | –68 | –70 | –70 | –72 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –23 | –48 | –50 | –49 | –51 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 64 | 67 | 64 | 67 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –29 | –32 | –36 | –41 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –30 | –30 | –35 | –32 |
- (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).
- Source: INSEE, monthly consumer confidence survey
Economic situation in France
Standard of living in France: slipping slightly
In September, households’ opinion of the future standard of living in France and their appreciation of the past standard of living deteriorated slightly: the two corresponding balances lost 2 points. They remained far below their long-term average.
Unemployment: fears rising
Households were slightly more pessimistic regarding future unemployment: the corresponding balance gained 3 points, thereby remaining above its long-term average.
Past inflation: dropping again
Households were once again less numerous to think prices went up. The corresponding balance decreased by 5 additional points in September, in line with the decline started in October 2013. Therefore, it remained clearly below its long-term average, at its lowest level since December 1999.
By contrast, after the drop in August (–5 points), households were more numerous in September to expect a rise in prices (+3 points). The corresponding balance went above its long term average again. However, it remained below the levels noted between July 2012 and July 2014.
graphiquegraph2_english – Balances on personal financial situation and standard of living
graphiquechomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
graphiqueprix_en – Households' perception of prices
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