5 September 2014
2014- n° 204In August 2014, households’ confidence remained stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - August 2014
In August 2014, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index remained at the same level for the third month in a row, below its long-period average.
In August 2014, households’ confidence was stable. The synthetic confidence index remained at the same level for the third month in a row, below its long-period average.
Personal situation
Financial situation: decreasing slightly
In August, households’ opinion of their future financial situation declined (–2 points). Their appreciation of their past financial situation was steady.
The share of households to consider it was a suitable time to make major purchases was almost stable (–1 point).
These three balances remained clearly below their long term average.
Future saving capacity: almost stable
Households’ opinion of their current saving capacity and their opinion of their future saving capacity were almost stable (+1 point). These two balances remained above their long term average.
In August, fewer households considered it was an opportune time to save: the corresponding balance lost 2 points. It fell below its long term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer synthetic index
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION:synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2014 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | May | June | July | August | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 86 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –19 | –33 | –36 | –33 | –33 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –4 | –22 | –20 | –18 | –20 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 |
| Expected saving capacity | –10 | –5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –27 | –25 | –26 | –27 |
| General economic sit., past 12 m. | –43 | –69 | –68 | –69 | –70 |
| General economic sit., next 12 m. | –23 | –49 | –48 | –49 | –49 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 32 | 59 | 63 | 66 | 63 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –13 | –26 | –29 | –31 | –34 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –27 | –30 | –30 | –36 |
- (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).
Economic situation in France
General economic situation in France: expectations holding steady
Households’ opinion of the future general economic situation in France was steady. Their appreciation of the past general economic situation was almost stable: the corresponding balance lost 1 point. These two balances remained distinctly below their long term average.
Unemployment: fears weakening
In August, households were a little less pessimistic regarding future unemployment: the corresponding balance decreased by 3 points. However it still stood above its long term average.
Past inflation: dropping
In August, households were less numerous to think prices went up (–3 points). The corresponding balance was below its long term average, reaching the lowest level since December 1999.
Much fewer households than in July anticipated a rise in prices. The corresponding balance fell by 6 points and thereby went below its long term average for the first time since March 2010.
graphiquegraph2_english – Balances on personal financial situation and general economic situation
graphiquechomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
graphiqueprix_en – Households' perception of prices
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