France’s consumer confidence index held steady at 86 in August 2026, unchanged from July and remaining below both market expectations (87) and its long-term average of 100. Consumers were marginally less pessimistic about their future financial situation (‑12 vs ‑13 in July), but their assessment of their past financial situation deteriorated slightly (‑27 vs ‑26).
Pessimism regarding major purchase intentions deepened (‑39 vs ‑37), even as saving behavior strengthened. Saving intentions climbed to a new record high (47 vs 45), and both current (20 vs 19) and expected (18 vs 17) saving capacity continued to improve. At the same time, households’ fears of unemployment rose again (58 vs 55), remaining above their long-term average, and views on France’s future standard of living worsened slightly (‑62 vs ‑60).
The overall savings climate index advanced to a fresh high of 125, up from 124. Inflation expectations rebounded sharply (‑14 vs ‑33), and perceptions of past price increases strengthened as well (25 vs 17).
