French consumer spending returned to growth in January 2026, rising 0.5% month-over-month after a 0.5% decline in December 2025, according to data updated on 27 February 2026. The turnaround marks a clear shift in momentum at the start of the year, following weakness at the end of 2025.
On a month-over-month basis, January’s 0.5% increase contrasts with December’s -0.5% reading, which had reflected a contraction versus November. The latest figures indicate that households in France stepped up their spending at the beginning of 2026, reversing the previous month’s drop and suggesting an improvement in short-term consumption dynamics.
The comparison is based on changes from one month to the next: the “actual” January figure measures the change versus December 2025, while the “previous” December reading captured the change versus November 2025.
