Survey shows consumer pessimism tailing off
Published: 27 Nov 2012 13:58 GMT+01:00 | Print version
Updated: 27 Nov 2012 13:58 GMT+01:00
French consumers showed less pessimism about their personal finances in November, after seven months of ever deeper gloom, official data showed on Tuesday.
An indicator of household confidence by the national statistics institute INSEE was steady during the month at 84 points.
The index is a leading indicator of consumption which is one of the main drivers of economic activity and growth in the French economy.
The view of households on their past financial situation fell by only one point and their opinion on their future prospects rose by one point.
And their attitude to making big purchases edged up one point.
However, these measures of confidence are far below the long-term average, the data from INSEE showed.
The French economy has been bumping along for about a year at just above zero growth, unemployment has been rising, and the government is introducing measures to raise taxes and contain expenditure as part of a drive to reduce its public deficit and debt.
Today's headlines
Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP
France became the 14th country to legalise same-sex marriage Saturday after President Francois Hollande signed the measure into law following months of bitter political debate.
READ () »
Struggling French oyster farmers, whose haul has diminished in recent years, are set to receive some much needed help from their Swedish counterparts, by importing oyster spats from Sweden for the first time.
READ () »
Photo: AFP
France's highest court the Constitutional Council cleared the divisive gay marriage bill on Friday, paving the way for same sex unions to become legal. Francois Hollande said he would sign the bill into law as soon as Saturday.
READ () »
The view from France
Beckham holding one of the PSG shirts some say he was signed just to sell. Photo: AFP
While many in the world of football raised a glass to David Beckham when he announced his retirement on Thursday, elements in the French media as well as PSG fans in Paris could not hide the fact they feel a little cheated by his minimal contribution on the pitch.
READ () »
File photo of a Chopard necklace. Photo:AFP
Thieves have stolen Chopard jewellery worth $1 million at Cannes Film Festival, French police reported on Friday. The jewellery was due to be loaned to film stars over the coming days.
READ () »
Policemen stand guard at the entrance to a nursery school where a man committed suicide in front of pupils on May 16. Photo: Martin Bureau/AFP
Around 750 police have been stationed at schools across the French city of Strasbourg after an anonymous person, believed to be a teenager, posted a message online threatening to commit suicide and kill several pupils at a school on Friday.
READ () »
Martine Aubry, cleared for a return to top level politics. Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP
Charges of manslaughter against Martine Aubry, a leading member of France's ruling Socialist Party, were dropped on Friday by a French court. The charges related to a probe into thousands of deaths caused by exposure to asbestos.
READ () »
French banking giant Societé General to cut 1,000 jobs worldwide. Photo: Loic Venance/AFP
French companies have long had a reputation for relying heavily on unpaid interns. New figures released on Friday highlighting the staggering number of interns on the payroll at banking giant Societé General will only confirm this reputation.
READ () »
Cannes Film Festival
Actresses choice of dresses to wear at Cannes range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Photo: AFP
Cannes might be a film festival, but in reality it is just as much about the glitz and glamour and actresses wearing all kinds of sublime or ridiculous outfits. Find out who won The Local's Palme d'Or for "Dress of the Day" on Thursday.
READ () »
My France - Loire Valley
Tha magnificent Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley and restaurant manager Jon Scorse with his two children Sasha and Gabriel.
For the latest instalment in our My France series we take a trip down the Loire Valley to find out what its like to live and work in this idyllic region of France, best known for the splendour of the chateaux and quality of the its wines.
READ () »
.jpg&mode=resize&size=300x200)
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.