Informations rapides
4 September 2015
2015- n° 216
In August 2015, households’ confidence was stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - August 2015

In August 2015, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index stood at 93, below its long-term average (100). It has been virtually stable at this level since February 2015.

Informations rapides
No 216
Paru le :Paru le04/09/2015
Prochaine parution le : 25/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

In August 2015, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index stood at 93, below its long-term average (100). It has been virtually stable at this level since February 2015.

Personal situation

Financial situation: stable

In August, households’ opinion of their financial situation, past as well as future one, was stable. The two corresponding balances stayed clearly below their long-term average.

Households were almost as numerous in August as in July to think it was a suitable time to make major purchases: the corresponding balance gained 1 point in August and remained above its long-term average.

Saving capacity: decreasing

In August, households’ opinion of their current saving capacity was virtually stable (–1 point), close to its long-term average. However, they were more pessimistic concerning their future saving capacity : the corresponding balance dropped by 3 points. It thus fell back below its long-term average.

A significantly lower proportion of households thought it was an opportune time to save: the corresponding balance fell by 10 points. Already below its long-term average, it deviated more clearly from it.

graph1_englishConsumer confidence synthetic index

Tab_engCONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances

Balance of responses, seasonally adjusted
CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances (Balance of responses, seasonally adjusted)
2015
Av. (1) May June July August
Synthetic index (2) 100 93 94 93 93
Financial sit., past 12 m. –19 –27 –27 –28 –28
Financial sit., next 12 m. –4 –13 –12 –12 –12
Current saving capacity 8 7 7 8 7
Expected saving capacity –10 –7 –8 –8 –11
Savings intentions, next 12 m. 18 2 8 6 –4
Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. –14 –14 –12 –13 –12
Standard of living, past 12 m. –43 –58 –57 –57 –57
Standard of living, next 12 m. –23 –33 –35 –35 –35
Unemployment, next 12 m. 32 57 54 55 52
Consumer prices, past 12 m. –13 –56 –54 –53 –51
Consumer prices, next 12 m. –34 –41 –37 –37 –36
  • (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 stable, at its highest level since October 2007

In August, households’ opinion of the past standard of living in France was stable for the third consecutive month; the corresponding balance thus remained at its highest level since October 2007. Similarly, their appreciation on the future standard of living has been stable for three months. These two balances remained nevertheless far below their long-term averages.

Unemployment: fears declining

In August, fears of households regarding unemployment eased somewhat: the corresponding balance of opinion decreased by 3 points. It stayed however substantially above its long-term average.

Future inflation: virtually stable

In August, households were slightly more numerous to think that prices increased over the last twelve months (+2 points). Nevertheless, the corresponding balance remained clearly below its long-term average.

The share of households expecting a rise in prices was almost stable in August (+1 point). The corresponding balance remained therefore close to its long-term average.

graph2_englishBalances on personal financial situation and standard of living

chomage_enHouseholds' unemployment expectations

prix_enHouseholds' perception of prices

Pour en savoir plus

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