25 September 2015
2015- n° 237In September 2015, households' confidence reaches its highest level since October
2007 Monthly consumer confidence survey - September 2015
In September 2015, following five consecutive months of stability, households' confidence improved anew. The synthetic confidence index has increased by 3 points and stands at 97, its highest value since October 2007. It stays however below its long-term average (100).
In September 2015, following five consecutive months of stability, households' confidence improved anew. The synthetic confidence index has increased by 3 points and stands at 97, its highest value since October 2007. It stays however below its long-term average (100).
Personal situation
Financial situation: improving
In September, households' opinion of their financial situation, past as well as future one, has improved. The corresponding balances have respectively gained 2 and 3 points. However, they remain below their long-term average.
Similarly, households have been more numerous than in August to think it is a suitable time to make major purchases: the corresponding balance has gained 4 points in September and has continued to rise above its long-term average.
Saving capacity: sharp growth
In September, households' opinion of their saving capacity has improved substantially: the balance concerning their current saving capacity has gained 5 points anew, and their appreciation concerning their future saving capacity has increased by 9 points. The two corresponding balances have thus gone back above their long-term average.
After a fall in August, the balance of opinion regarding savings intentions has bounced back (+14 points) and has recovered its level of this year's early summer. Nevertheless, it stays below its long-term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer confidence synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2015 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | June | July | August | Sept. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 97 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –27 | –28 | –28 | –26 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –12 | –12 | –11 | –8 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 12 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –8 | –7 | –11 | –2 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 9 | 7 | –6 | 8 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –11 | –13 | –11 | –7 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –43 | –57 | –57 | –56 | –52 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –23 | –34 | –34 | –34 | –28 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 53 | 55 | 51 | 45 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –54 | –53 | –51 | –54 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –38 | –37 | –37 | –41 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2014
- (2) This indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2014).
- Source: INSEE, monthly consumer confidence survey
Economic situation in France
Standard of living in France: opinion reaching its highest level since September 2007
In September, households' opinion of the past standard of living in France has improved again (+4 points); the corresponding balance stands at its highest level since September 2007. Likewise, their appreciation on the future standard of living has grown markedly (+6 points), after three months of stability. These two balances remain nevertheless below their long-term averages.
Unemployment: fears declining again
In September, fears of households regarding unemployment have weakened for the second consecutive month. The corresponding balance of opinion has decreased by 6 points. It stays however significantly above its long-term average.
Perceived and expected inflation: decreasing
In September, households have been less numerous to think that prices increased over the last twelve months (–3 points). They also have been less numerous to expect an increase in prices in the coming months (–4 points). The corresponding balances remain below their long-term averages.
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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