28 March 2018
2018- n° 82In March 2018, households' confidence is stable (100) Monthly consumer confidence survey - March 2018
In March 2018, households' confidence in the economic situation was stable: it settled at 100, its long term average.
In March 2018, households' confidence in the economic situation was stable: it settled at 100, its long term average.
graphiqueGraph1 – Consumer confidence synthetic index
- Source: INSEE
Personal situation
Expected financial situation: clear improvement
In March, households were more optimistic than in February about their expected financial situation: the corresponding balance regained 6 points, after losing 5 points in February. However, it remains clearly above its long term average. Households' opinion on their past financial situation was virtually stable: the corresponding balance stays slightly below its long term average.
The share of households considering it is a suitable time to make major purchases was virtually stable in March (−1 point). The corresponding balance remains clearly above its long term average.
Current saving capacity: slight decline
In March, households' opinion balance on their current saving capacity fell by 2 points, while the one on their expected saving capacity was virtually stable. Both balances remain slightly above their long term average.
The share of households considering it is a suitable time to save was stable in March. The corresponding balance thus stands clearly below its long term average.
Economic situation in France
Past standard of living in France: declining again
In March, households were slighlty more numerous to consider that the past standard of living in France deteriorated during the past twelve months: the corresponding balance lost 2 points, after losing 4 points in February. Households' opinion on the future standard of living in France was unchanged. Both opinion's balances remain slightly above their long term average.
graphiqueGraph2 – Balances on personal financial situation and standard of living in France
- Source: INSEE
Unemployment: steady expectations
Households' opinion on the unemployment trend was virtually stable in March: the corresponding balance stays far below its long-term average.
graphiqueGraph3 – Households' unemployment expectations
- Source: INSEE
Perceived and expected inflation: lowering
In March, households were less numerous than in February to consider that prices were on the rise during the last twelve months: the corresponding balance lost 3 points and remains clearly below its long term average.
Households were also less numerous than last month to expect prices to increase during the next twelve months: the corresponding balance lost 6 points. However, it remains above its long term average.
graphiqueGraph4 – Households' perception of prices
- Source: INSEE
tableauTable – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| Avg. (1) | Dec. 17 | Jan. 18 | Feb. 18 | March 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 104 | 104 | 100 | 100 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –21 | –18 | –16 | –22 | –23 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –5 | –11 | –13 | –18 | –12 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 |
| Expected saving capacity | –9 | –1 | –3 | –8 | –7 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 17 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –3 | –4 | –4 | –5 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –45 | –33 | –33 | –37 | –39 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –25 | –16 | –18 | –24 | –24 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 34 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –17 | –48 | –43 | –37 | –40 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –35 | –17 | –20 | –26 |
- (1) Average value between January 1987 and December 2017
- (2) The indicator is normalised in such a way that its average equals 100 and standard error equals 10 over the estimation period (1987-2017).
- Source: INSEE, monthly consumer confidence survey
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