28 October 2015
2015- n° 264In October 2015, households' confidence dips slightly Monthly consumer confidence survey - October 2015
In October 2015, after reaching its highest value since October 2007, households' confidence dips slightly. The synthetic confidence index has decreased by 1 point and stands at 96. It thus stays below its long-term average (100).
In October 2015, after reaching its highest value since October 2007, households' confidence dips slightly. The synthetic confidence index has decreased by 1 point and stands at 96. It thus stays below its long-term average (100).
Personal situation
Financial situation: improving
In October, households' opinion of their past financial situation has improved again: the corresponding balance has gained 2 points and therefore stands at its highest level since November 2010. Conversely, their opinion regarding their future financial situation has declined anew: the corresponding balance has lost 3 points. These two balances remain below their long-term average.
After rising markedly in September, the share of households considering it has been a suitable time to make major purchases has diminished: the corresponding balance has eased back by 6 points in October and has thus fallen back to its level of August. It stays nevertheless slightly above its long-term average.
Saving capacity: declining
After a sharp increase in September, households' opinion of their saving capacity has worsened: the balance concerning their current saving capacity has dwindled by 5 points and is therefore back to its long-term average; their appreciation concerning their future saving capacity has dipped by 3 points, yet it stays slightly above its long-term average.
The balance of opinion regarding savings intentions has been virtually stable (–1 point). It remains below its long-term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer confidence synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
2015 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Av. (1) | July | August | Sept. | Oct. | |
Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 93 | 94 | 97 | 96 |
Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –28 | –28 | –26 | –24 |
Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –12 | –12 | –7 | –10 |
Current saving capacity | 8 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 8 |
Expected saving capacity | –10 | –7 | –11 | –2 | –5 |
Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 7 | –6 | 8 | 7 |
Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –14 | –12 | –6 | –12 |
Standard of living, past 12 m. | –43 | –57 | –57 | –52 | –54 |
Standard of living, next 12 m. | –23 | –34 | –34 | –29 | –31 |
Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 56 | 52 | 45 | 60 |
Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –53 | –51 | –53 | –51 |
Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –37 | –37 | –41 | –42 |
- (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 faltering
In October, households' opinion of the past standard of living and their appreciation on the future standard of living in France have gone down slightly: their corresponding balances have each declined by 2 points after increasing by 5 points the previous month. These two balances remain below their long-term average.
Unemployment: fears growing markedly
In October, after easing substantially for two months in a row, fears of households regarding unemployment have deepened: the corresponding balance of opinion has climbed by 15 points and has gone back to its level of February. It stays clearly above its long-term average.
Perceived inflation: increasing slightly
In October, households have been slightly more numerous to think that prices have risen over the last twelve months (+2 points). The balance related to expected changes in prices has been virtually stable (–1 point). The two balances remain far below their long-term average.