29 October 2014
2014- n° 251In October 2014, households’ confidence was stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - October 2014
In October 2014, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index remained at its September level (85). Over the last three months, households’ confidence has been slightly edging down. It remained clearly below its long-term average.
In October 2014, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index remained at its September level (85). Over the last three months, households’ confidence has been slightly edging down. It remained clearly below its long-term average.
Personal situation
Financial situation: almost stable
In October, households’ opinion of their future financial situation was stable. Their appreciation of their past financial situation was almost stable (-1 point).
The share of households to consider it was a suitable time to make major purchases increased slightly (+2 points).
These three balances remained clearly below their long-term average.
Saving capacity: almost stable
In October, households’ opinion of their future saving capacity was almost stable (–1 point), and so was their opinion of their current saving capacity (+1 point, after 3 months of stability). These two balances remained above their long-term average.
The share of households to consider it was an opportune time to save increased slightly in October (+2 points), and remained close to its long-term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer confidence synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2014 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 86 | 86 | 85 | 85 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –33 | –33 | –31 | –32 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –18 | –20 | –21 | –21 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | 0 | 1 | –2 | –3 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –26 | –26 | –28 | –26 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –43 | –70 | –70 | –73 | –75 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –23 | –50 | –49 | –51 | –52 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 66 | 62 | 66 | 63 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –31 | –35 | –40 | –37 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –29 | –35 | –32 | –29 |
- (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 October, households’ opinion of the past standard of living in France deteriorated slightly (-2 points), and their appreciation of the future standard of living was almost stable (-1 point). These two balances remained far below their long-term average.
Unemployment: fears decreasing
Households were slightly less pessimistic regarding future unemployment: the corresponding balance lost 3 points. Nevertheless it remained above its long-term average.
Past inflation: increasing anew
Households were more numerous again to think prices went up. The corresponding balance increased by 3 points in October, after a 34 points drop between November 2013 and September 2014. Yet it remained clearly below its long-term average.
Households were meanwhile more numerous in October to expect a rise in prices (+3 points, as in September). The corresponding balance thus remained above 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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