Economy | Inflation: 78% of French people are “tightening their belts”, according to a survey

2023-09-07 15:42:38

Nearly four out of five French people “tighten their belts once more” in the face of rising prices, and more than half (57%, up sharply) do not consider the government’s action effective in this area, according to a survey* published this Wednesday. Two out of three, however, want the return discount on gasoline.

At 78%, according to this Elabe survey for BFMTV, the proportion of French people declaring “to tighten one’s belt” is almost stable (-1 point) compared to a similar survey in May. But the answers “a lot” are up four points to 29%. As a result, 46% of those questioned have given up on shopping in recent months, 45% on going out, 44% on going on vacation or weekends, and 40% on buying certain food products. In addition, 57% (+10 points compared to March) now systematically buy clothes and shoes at the cheapest price, or even do without them, 53% (+10) do the same with household equipment, 50% (+ 9) with holidays and 43% (+13) with food shopping.

Meat and fish, less purchased by the French

56% of French people have stopped buying certain products, or buy them in smaller quantities (28%). This is the case for meat, cited by 45% of respondents, fish (33%) or organic products (27%). The French blame the food industry “which increases its prices too sharply” (69%, +3 compared to May) and mass distribution “which does not reduce its margins enough” (65%, +2). The consequences of the war in Ukraine are less cited (32%, -4).

Furthermore, 72% of those questioned noticed less quantity of product in certain packaging sold at the same price or more expensive than before. Finally government measures for purchasing power “do not improve the situation at all”, according to 57% of respondents, up 20 points compared to May. At the same time, 63% (69% of motorists) consider the return of a rebate on gasoline “necessary” “even if this has a significant impact on public finances”. And 64% say they find the possible increase from 50 cents to one euro in the deductible on medicines envisaged by the government “not acceptable”.

*The survey was carried out on September 5 and 6 via the internet among a sample of 1,000 adults residing in mainland France, whose representativeness was ensured using the quota method.

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