Informations rapides
29 October 2014
2014- n° 251
In 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.

Informations rapides
No 251
Paru le :Paru le29/10/2014
Prochaine parution le : 25/09/2024 at 08:45 - September 2024

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.

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)
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.

graph2_englishBalances on personal financial situation and standard of living

chomage_enHouseholds' unemployment expectations

prix_enHouseholds' perception of prices

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