29 March 2017
2017- n° 85In March 2017, households' confidence is stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - March 2017
In March 2017, households' confidence in the economic situation is stable: the synthetic index remains at 100, its long-term average.
In March 2017, households' confidence in the economic situation is stable: the synthetic index remains at 100, its long-term average.
graphiqueGraph1 – Consumer confidence synthetic index
- Source: INSEE
Personal situation
Expected financial situation: slightly declining
In March, households' opinion on their future financial situation has worsened slightly. The corresponding balance has lost 2 points and stands below its long-term average. Households' balance of opinion on their past financial situation is virtually stable (+1 point), at its long-term average.
In March, the share of households considering it has been a suitable time to make major purchases has fallen sharply (−6 points), after going up by 4 points in February. However, the corresponding balance remains far above its long-term average.
Saving capacity: near stability
In March, households' opinion on their saving capacity has barely changed: the balance on their current saving capacity has increased by one point while the balance on their expected saving capacity has lost one. Both balances are above their long-term average.
Households considering it has been a suitable time to save are slightly more numerous: the corresponding balance has gained 2 points. Despite a three-month growth, it stays far 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 March, households' opinion on the past standard of living in France is almost unchanged: the corresponding balance has gained 1 point but remains below its long-term average. The balance of opinion on the future standard of living in France is also virtually stable (−1 point) and stands at its long-term average.
Unemployment: virtually stable
Households' fears concerning unemployment are virtuallyt stable (+1 point in March). The corresponding balance has been clearly below its long-term average since November 2016.
Expected inflation rising
In March, households are more numerous than in February to expect prices to increase during the next twelve months: the corresponding balance has gained 4 points and has deviated anew from its long-term average.
Households are as numerous as in February to consider that prices were on the rise in the past twelve months. The corresponding balance has been below its long-term average since February 2014.
graphiqueGraph3 – Households' unemployment expectations
- Source: INSEE
graphiqueGraph4 – Households' perception of prices
- Source: INSEE
tableauTable – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| Avg. (1) | Dec. 16 | Jan. 17 | Feb. 17 | Mar. 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 99 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –21 | –22 | –22 | –22 | –21 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –5 | –8 | –5 | –6 | –8 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 12 |
| Expected saving capacity | –9 | –6 | –6 | –2 | –3 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 18 | –7 | –1 | 3 | 5 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –4 | –5 | –1 | –7 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –45 | –52 | –48 | –49 | –48 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –25 | –24 | –25 | –24 | –25 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 35 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –16 | –49 | –44 | –45 | –45 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –29 | –22 | –29 | –25 |
- (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
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