27 March 2015
2015- n° 75In March 2015, households’ confidence keeps improving (+1 point) Monthly consumer confidence survey - March 2015
In March 2015, households’ confidence has improved for the second month in a row; the synthetic confidence index has gained 1 point and has reached 93, its highest value since November 2010. However, it remains distinctly below its long-term average (100).
In March 2015, households’ confidence has improved for the second month in a row; the synthetic confidence index has gained 1 point and has reached 93, its highest value since November 2010. However, it remains distinctly below its long-term average (100).
Personal situation
Financial situation: stability
So far this month, households’ opinion of their past financial situation and their appreciation on their future financial situation have been stable. These two balances stay below their long-term average.
Households are more numerous to think it is a suitable time to make major purchases (+2 points). The corresponding balance has gone slightly above its long-term average for the first time since October 2007.
Saving capacity: rising
In March, households’ opinion of their current saving capacity has improved (+2 points). The balance of opinion concerning their future saving capacity has grown markedly (+4 points). These two balances stand significantly above their long-term average.
Likewise, the share of households thinking it is an opportune time to save has increased slightly (+1 point). The balance remains nevertheless below its long-term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer confidence synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2014 | 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 90 | 90 | 92 | 93 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –27 | –29 | –27 | –27 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –15 | –17 | –14 | –14 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –2 | –4 | –4 | 0 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 26 | 16 | 14 | 15 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –22 | –18 | –15 | –13 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –43 | –67 | –66 | –62 | –60 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –23 | –43 | –40 | –37 | –35 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 65 | 61 | 58 | 45 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –45 | –48 | –51 | –53 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –42 | –45 | –45 | –47 |
- (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: improving
In March, households’ opinion of the past standard of living in France has improved for the third consecutive month (+2 points) and has reached its highest value since October 2007. Their appreciation on the future standard of living has risen similarly for the fifth month in a row (+2 points). These two balances remain however far below their long-term average.
Unemployment: fears receding significantly
Substantially fewer households think that unemployment will rise: the corresponding balance has dropped by 13 points in March, thereby reaching its lowest value since May 2012. It remains nonetheless above its long-term average.
Past inflation: declining again
The share of households thinking that prices increased has stepped back for the fourth consecutive month (–2 points in March), and remains at its lowest level since 1999. It thus stands noticeably below its long-term average.
In March, households are similarly less numerous to expect a rise in prices: the corresponding balance has slipped by 2 points. It stands at its lowest level since November 2009, clearly below its long-term average.
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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