24 February 2017
2017- n° 51In February 2017, households' confidence remains at its long-term average Monthly consumer confidence survey - February 2017
In February 2017, households' confidence in the economic situation is stable: the synthetic index holds steady at 100, its long-term average.
In February 2017, households' confidence in the economic situation is stable: the synthetic index holds steady at 100, its long-term average.
graphiqueGraph1 – Consumer confidence synthetic index
- Source: INSEE
Personal situation
Personal financial situation: close to normal
Households deem that their personal financial situation remains close to normal. Thus, in February, households' opinion on their past financial situation is stable for the second consecutive month. Their opinion on their future financial situation is virtually stable: the corresponding balance has lost 1 point. Both balances stand roughly at their long-term average.
In February, the share of households consdering it has been a suitable time to make major purchases has increased: the corresponding balance has gained 3 points. It has been above its long-term average for two years now and has reached its highest level since July 2007.
Saving capacity : on the rise
In February, households' balance of opinion on their expected saving capacity has improved (+4 points), as their opinion on their current saving capacity (+3 points). Both balances are above their long-term average.
Households considering it has been a suitable time to save are more numerous too: the corresponding balance has gained 3 points. However it stays clearly below its long-term average.
graphiqueGraph2 – Balances on personal financial situation and standard of living in France
- Source: INSEE
Economic situation in France
Standard of living in France: near stability
In February, households' opinion on the past standard of living in France is virtually stable; the corresponding balance is 4 points below its long-term average. Their opinion on the future standard of living in France is also virtually unchanged: the balance stands just above its long-term average.
Unemployment: near stability
Households' fears concerning unemployment are virtually stable in February. The balance remains below its long-term average for the fourth consecutive month.
Perceived and expected inflation decreasing
In February, households are a little less numerous than in January to consider that prices were on the rise during the past twelve months: the balance has lost 2 points. Thus, it remains largely below its long-term average.
Households are clearly less numerous than in January to expect price increases in the next twelve months: the balance has decreased by 8 points, after growing by 19 points during the two previous months. It stands above its long-term average for the third consecutive month.
graphiqueGraph3 – Households' unemployment expectations
- Source: INSEE
graphiqueGraph4 – Households' perception of prices
- Source: INSEE
tableauTable – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| Avg. (1) | Nov. 16 | Dec. 16 | Jan. 17 | Feb. 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –21 | –24 | –22 | –22 | –22 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –5 | –8 | –8 | –5 | –6 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 |
| Expected saving capacity | –9 | –5 | –6 | –6 | –2 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | –2 | –7 | –1 | 2 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –5 | –3 | –4 | –1 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –45 | –49 | –52 | –48 | –49 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –25 | –25 | –24 | –25 | –24 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 35 | 26 | 21 | 19 | 20 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –16 | –51 | –49 | –44 | –46 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –41 | –29 | –22 | –30 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2016
- (2) This indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2016).
- Source: INSEE, monthly consumer confidence survey
Pour en savoir plus
