27 April 2016
2016- n° 110In April 2016, households' confidence is stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - April 2016
In April 2016, households' confidence is stable: the synthetic confidence index stands at 94 again, thereby remaining below its average calculated over the period 1987-2015 (100).
In April 2016, households' confidence is stable: the synthetic confidence index stands at 94 again, thereby remaining below its average calculated over the period 1987-2015 (100).
Personal situation
Financial situation: expectations virtually stable
In April, households' opinion of their past personal financial situation holds steady for the third consecutive month. Their opinion of their personal financial situation in the next twelve months is virtually stable: the corresponding balance has lost 1 point, it stands at its lowest level since February 2015. Both balances are below their long-term average.
In April, the share of households considering it has been a suitable time to make major purchases is the same for the third consecutive month. The balance remains slightly above its long-term average.
Saving capacity: improving
In April, households' balance of opinion on their current saving capacity has picked up somewhat, after hitting its lowest level since March 2012: the corresponding balance has gained 3 points and has thus gone back just above its long-term average. The one concerning their expected saving capacity is virtually stable (+1 point) and stands at its long-term average.
In April, households are less numerous than in March to consider it has been a suitable time to save (−3 points). The balance has therefore deviated further from its long term average.
graphiquegraph1_english – Consumer confidence synthetic index
- Source: INSEE
tableauTab_eng – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. (1) | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 97 | 95 | 94 | 94 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –21 | –24 | –25 | –25 | –25 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –5 | –9 | –10 | –13 | –14 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
| Expected saving capacity | –9 | –7 | –6 | –10 | –9 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | 1 | –2 | –2 | –5 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –15 | –6 | –12 | –12 | –12 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –45 | –55 | –57 | –58 | –58 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –25 | –25 | –33 | –37 | –38 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 35 | 33 | 46 | 43 | 49 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –14 | –51 | –55 | –56 | –57 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –39 | –38 | –36 | –36 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2015
- (2) This indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2015).
- Source: INSEE, monthly consumer confidence survey
Economic situation in France
Standard of living in France: expectations weakening slightly
In April, households' opinion of their expected standard of living in France has declined for the fourth consecutive month: the corresponding balance has lost 1 point, and has thus reached its lowest level since January 2015. The balance on the past standard of living has levelled off. Both balances remain clearly below their long term average.
graphiquegraph2_english – Balances on personal financial situation and standard of living
- Source: INSEE
Unemployment: fears rising
After a slight decline in March (−3 points), households' fears concerning unemployment have been reignited (+6 points). The corresponding balance stays therefore above its long-term average.
graphiquechomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
- Source: INSEE
Perceived inflation: hitting a new low
In April, households are slightly less numerous than in March to consider that prices increased during the past twelve months: the corresponding balance has lost 1 point. It has thus hit a new low since 1987 (starting date of the monthly series). The share of households to consider that prices should increase during the next 12 months is stable, the balance remaining slightly below its long-term average.
graphiqueprix_en – Households' perception of prices
- Source: INSEE
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