28 April 2015
2015- n° 102In April 2015, households’ confidence keeps improving (+1 point) Monthly consumer confidence survey - April 2015
In April 2015, households’ confidence has improved for the third month in a row; the synthetic confidence index has gained 1 point and has reached 94, its highest value since January 2010. However, it remains distinctly below its long-term average.
In April 2015, households’ confidence has improved for the third month in a row; the synthetic confidence index has gained 1 point and has reached 94, its highest value since January 2010. However, it remains distinctly below its long-term average.
Personal situation
Financial situation: improving
So far this month, households’ opinion of their past financial situation has improved (+2 points), and their appreciation on their future financial situation has been almost stable (+1 point). However, these two balances stay below their long-term average.
Households are more numerous in April to think it is a suitable time to make major purchases (+2 points). The corresponding balance has gained 16 points since September 2014; it thus stays slightly above its long-term average, at its highest level since October 2007.
Saving capacity: rising
In April, households’ opinion of their current saving capacity is almost stable (+1 point). The balance of opinion concerning their future saving capacity has kept growing markedly (+3 points), and has reached its highest level since January 2001. These two balances stand significantly above their long-term average.
Moreover, the share of households thinking it is an opportune time to save is almost stable (+1 point). The balance remains slightly below its long-term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer confidence synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2015 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | |
| Synthetic index | 100 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 94 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –29 | –27 | –27 | –25 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –17 | –14 | –14 | –13 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –4 | –3 | 1 | 4 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –18 | –15 | –13 | –11 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –43 | –66 | –62 | –60 | –59 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –23 | –40 | –37 | –36 | –36 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 63 | 60 | 45 | 60 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –48 | –50 | –52 | –52 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –45 | –44 | –46 | –43 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2014
- Source: INSEE, monthly consumer confidence survey
Economic situation in France
Standard of living in France: virtual stability
In April, households’ opinion of the past standard of living in France is almost stable (+1 point) and remains at its highest value since October 2007. Their appreciation on the future standard of living is stable. However, these two balances remain far below their long-term average.
Unemployment: fears strongly rebounding
In April, households are substantially more numerous than in March to think that unemployment will rise: the corresponding balance has increased by 15 points, after an equivalent drop in March. It remains above its long-term average.
Future inflation: increasing again
The share of households thinking that prices increased is stable in April, and remains at its lowest level since 1999. It thus stands noticeably below its long-term average.
On the contrary, households are more numerous to expect a rise in prices: the corresponding balance has increased by 3 points. However, it stands 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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