France Consumer Confidence Improves in July

The consumer confidence indicator in France rose to 86 in July 2026, a four-month high, up from 84 in June, but remained below its long-term average of 100. Consumers became less pessimistic about both their past financial situation (-26 vs -28 in June) and expected financial situation (-14 vs -16), while sentiment toward France's future standard of living improved sharply (-59 vs -65) and views on past living standards also became less negative (-79 vs -81). Pessimism over major purchase intentions also eased (-36 vs -38), while saving intentions (45 vs 41) and both current (19 vs 16) and expected (17 vs 14) saving capacity increased. Households' fears of unemployment cooled (55 vs 61) but remained above their long-term average. Meanwhile, the savings climate index rebounded to 123, while inflation expectations dropped sharply (-33 vs -15), returning close to their pre-Middle East conflict level.

The consumer confidence indicator in France rose to 84 in June 2026 from a more than three-year low of 82 in the previous month, slightly exceeding market expectations of 83. Households became less pessimistic about their financial situation, with assessments of both past (-28 vs -29 in May) and future finances (-16 vs -19) improving. Sentiment toward France’s future living standards also improved (-65 vs -70), although views on past living standards deteriorated slightly (-81 vs -80). In addition, major purchase intentions were less negative (-38 vs -39). Saving intentions edged up (41 vs 40), while current savings capacity weakened slightly (16 vs 18) and future savings capacity remained unchanged (14). On the other hand, unemployment expectations remained elevated (60 vs 55). On the price front, households' perceptions of past price increases edged lower (23 vs 25), while inflation expectations tumbled sharply (-15 vs 0).

The consumer confidence indicator in France fell to 82 in May 2026 from 84 in April, below expectations of 83, marking its lowest level since March 2023 and moving further below its long-term average of 100. Households grew more pessimistic about their financial situation, with views on both past (-29 vs -26 in April) and expected finances (-20 vs -19) deteriorating further. Assessments of living standards in France also weakened, both past (-81 vs -75) and future (-70 vs -69). Major purchase intentions declined sharply to -40 from -35, while unemployment expectations remained elevated at 54, despite easing slightly from 56. Meanwhile, households’ perceptions of past price increases continued to rise (27 vs 25), while future inflation expectations eased (2 vs 10). Saving intentions edged higher to 40 from 39, while both current and expected saving capacity remained unchanged at 18 and 14, respectively.