25 April 2018
2018- n° 107In April 2018, households' confidence is almost stable Monthly consumer confidence survey - April 2018
In April 2018, households' confidence in the economic situation was almost unchanged: the synthetic index gained one point at 101, slightly above its long term average.
In April 2018, households' confidence in the economic situation was almost unchanged: the synthetic index gained one point at 101, slightly above its long term average.
graphiqueGraph1 – Consumer confidence synthetic index
- Source: INSEE
Personal situation
Expected financial situation: virtually stable
In April, households were almost as optimistic as in March about their expected financial situation: the corresponding balance increased by one point (after gaining 6 points in March). Nevertheless, it remains below its long term average. Households' opinion on their past financial situation worsened a little further: the corresponding balance lost two points (after −1 point in March) and deviated from its long term average.
The share of households considering it is a suitable time to make major purchases rose slightly in April (+2 points). The corresponding balance remains well above its long term average.
Current saving capacity: stable
In April, households' opinion balance on their current saving capacity was unchanged compared with March, standing slightly above its long term average. The balance on their expected saving capacity was virtually stable (−1 point) and is back to its long term average.
The share of households considering it is a suitable time to save was almost stable in April (−1 point). The corresponding balance has been above its long term average since April 2015.
graphiqueGraph2 – Balances on personal financial situation and standard of living in France
- Source: INSEE
Economic situation in France
Past standard of living in France: renewed optimism
In April, households were more numerous to consider that the past standard of living in France improved during the past twelve months: the corresponding balance gained 4 points, after losing 3 points in March and 4 points in February. Households were also a little more confident on the future standard of living in France: the corresponding balance gained 2 points. Both opinion's balances stand above their long term average.
Unemployment: almost unchanged expectations
Households' opinion on the unemployment trend was virtually stable in April (+1 point). The corresponding balance remains far below its long-term average.
graphiqueGraph3 – Households' unemployment expectations
- Source: INSEE
Expected inflation: slight decline
In April, households were less numerous than in the previous month to expect prices to increase during the next twelve months: the corresponding balance fell by 2 points, after losing 6 points in March. However, it remains above its long term average.
Households were as numerous as in March to consider that prices were on the rise during the last twelve months. The corresponding balance remains far below its long term average.
graphiqueGraph4 – Households' perception of prices
- Source: INSEE
tableauTable – CONSUMER OPINION: synthetic index and opinion balances
| Avg. (1) | Jan. 18 | Feb. 18 | March 18 | April 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthetic index (2) | 100 | 104 | 100 | 100 | 101 |
| Financial sit., past 12 m. | –21 | –16 | –23 | –24 | –26 |
| Financial sit., next 12 m. | –5 | –13 | –18 | –12 | –11 |
| Current saving capacity | 8 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Expected saving capacity | –9 | –4 | –8 | –8 | –9 |
| Savings intentions, next 12 m. | 17 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 m. | –14 | –3 | –4 | –5 | –3 |
| Standard of living, past 12 m. | –45 | –32 | –36 | –39 | –35 |
| Standard of living, next 12 m. | –25 | –18 | –23 | –23 | –21 |
| Unemployment, next 12 m. | 34 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Consumer prices, past 12 m. | –17 | –43 | –36 | –39 | –39 |
| Consumer prices, next 12 m. | –34 | –17 | –19 | –25 | –27 |
- (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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