Posted Feb 28 2023 at 11:30Updated Feb 28. 2023 at 02:22 PM
While inflation penalizes the purchasing power of the French, certain measures to cushion the shock will come into effect from Wednesday March 1, while other expenditure items are likely to increase. Overview of what’s changing this month.
. TotalEnergies caps fuel prices
Put under pressure by Emmanuel Macron, who asked the company for a “gesture” following its record profits, TotalEnergies will cap the price of a liter of 95 unleaded petrol or diesel from Wednesday at 1.99 euros in the 3,400 service stations operated by the firm in France.
The measure – which excludes top-of-the-range Excellium diesel and unleaded 98 products – will last at least until the end of the year. It should be noted, however, that prices at the pump in France remain for the moment well below the symbolic bar of 2 euros.
. Strictly supervised telephone canvassing
In application of a decree published in the Official Journal on October 14, 2022, commercial canvassing by telephone will be strictly regulated from Wednesday. It will now be prohibited to call individuals during weekends and on public holidays. This will only be allowed Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For insistent salespeople, it will be forbidden to call the same person more than 4 times per month. And if a consumer refuses canvassing during the first call, the professional has the obligation to refrain from contacting him for a period of at least 60 days from the refusal.
. Increase in the price of cigarettes
In order to fight once morest the ravages of smoking, the leading cause of “avoidable deaths” in France, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced in the fall the gradual increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes, which should reach around 11 euros in 2024.
Currently sold around 10 euros, the pack of 20 cigarettes will take on average 50 or 60 cents from March 1st. For rolling tobacco, the increase will be even greater, around 1 euro per pack.
. Rate increase for Action Logement loans
From March 1, the Action Logement organization, France’s leading social landlord, will change the rate of the home loan, supposed to help employees buy housing by obtaining an amount of 40,000 euros to be repaid over a maximum period of 25 years. . This will go from 0.5% to 1.5% excluding insurance.
“This fixed rate is likely to change in the coming months depending on the evolution of the credit market”, specifies the lessor.
. Companies must show their credentials on professional equality
All companies with 50 or more employees must have calculated and published their Professional Equality Index on their website. A legal obligation, it makes it possible to measure the pay gap between women and men. Any company publishing an index lower than 75 points out of 100 must then take measures to rectify this discrepancy.
. Compensation for Navigo pass holders
The president of the Île-de-France region Valérie Pécresse announced on February 9 compensation for users following the disruptions and punctuality difficulties that occurred on the Ile-de-France transport networks during the year 2022.
From March 14 and for a period of one month, all travelers from Île-de-France holding a Navigo pass between the months of September and December 2022 will therefore be able to request a refund of 37.60 euros, i.e. half the price of a monthly subscription. A platform must be set up to centralize requests.
. Summer time is approaching
The transition to summer time will take place on the night of Saturday March 25 to Sunday March 26. At 2 a.m., it will actually be 3 a.m. You will therefore have to advance your watch by one hour.
