26 August 2016
2016- n° 223In August 2016, households' confidence recovers slightly Monthly consumer confidence survey - August 2016
In August 2016, households' confidence has recovered slightly: the synthetic confidence index has gained 1 point, reaching 97. It thus stays below its long-term average (100).
In August 2016, households' confidence has recovered slightly: the synthetic confidence index has gained 1 point, reaching 97. It thus stays below its long-term average (100).
Personal situation
Past financial situation: increasing markedly
In August, households' opinion of their personal financial situation in the past twelve months has improved significantly: the corresponding balance has gained 7 points and has thereby reached its long-term average. Their opinion of their personal financial situation in the next twelve months is stable for the third consecutive month; it remains below its long-term average.
After an increase in July, the share of households considering it has been a suitable time to make major purchases has declined anew in August (−3 points). However, the corresponding balance stays above its long-term average.
Current saving capacity: improving slightly
After a three-month stability, households' balance of opinion on their current saving capacity has increased slightly and has thus moved above its long-term average. The one concerning their expected saving capacity is virtually stable (+1 point), slightly below its long-term average.
In August, the share of households considering it has been a suitable time to save edged down (−2 points) and has thereby deviated 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) | May | June | July | Aug. | |
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 98 | 97 | 96 | 97 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –21 | –24 | –23 | –28 | –21 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –5 | –9 | –10 | –10 | –10 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Expected saving capacity | –9 | –11 | –9 | –11 | –10 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | –2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –15 | –3 | –12 | –8 | –11 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –45 | –48 | –53 | –52 | –53 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –25 | –27 | –33 | –31 | –35 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 35 | 21 | 21 | 26 | 34 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –14 | –53 | –53 | –52 | –53 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –39 | –36 | –38 | –37 |
- (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 faltering
Households' opinion of the future standard of living in France has weakened: the corresponding balance has lost 4 points. The one concerning the past standard of living is virtually stable (−1 point). Both balances remain below their long-term average.
graphiquegraph2_english – Balances on personal financial situation and standard of living in France
- Source: INSEE
Unemployment: fears growing again
After reaching in May and June their lowest level since 2008, fears concerning unemployment have risen for the second month in a row (+8 points in August after +5 points in July). The balance now stands just below its long-term average.
graphiquechomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
- Source: INSEE
Inflation: near stability
In August, households are almost as numerous as in July to consider that prices increased during the past twelve months (−1 point) and that they are likely to increase during the next 12 months (+1 point). The corresponding balances remain below their long-term average.
graphiqueprix_en – Households' perception of prices
- Source: INSEE
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