Should we fear a month of “red March” with soaring food prices? At the microphone of France info on Tuesday February 18, Jacques Creyssel indicated a probable increase of 10% in food products. In one year, the cost of living for French households increased by 6.2% in February according to INSEE’s latest monthly report on the consumer price index (CPI) and by 0.9% in a month. This tool for measuring inflation (CPI) serves in particular as a reference for the evolution of rents, alimony or even the indexation of the SMIC.
Cost of living rose 6% year on year in January
For now, detailed data by product is only available in January. This increase in the CPI is one of the strongest recorded at the start of the year. For comparison, there was an increase of 2.9% between January 2021 and 2022, + 0.6% (January 2020 and 2021) or even + 1.5% (January 2019 and 2020). Among those most affected are students: “I feel privileged, but I have friends who have already used student food banks,” explains Emma, 22 and student nurse.
According to the COICOP nomenclature (Classification of household consumption functions), the explosion in prices is most marked for food and non-alcoholic beverages (+14.2%), ahead of “furniture, household items and routine household maintenance” (+9.3%), the transports (+8.6%) and “housing, water, gas, electricity and other fuels” (+8 %).
+ 14.2% for food products and non-alcoholic beverages
Over the last twelve months, the cost of food products increased by 14.4%. For Michelle, 65 and retired from the bank, “my shopping cart always exceeds €80, whereas before it was more like €60. I find canned vegetables much more expensive than before”. Among the most significant increases, we observe in particular the margarine and other vegetable fats (+27.71%%), the flours and other cereals (+25.06%) or even frozen fruit (+19.52%).
On the side of soft drinkthe price index increases over the same period of +11,6 %. At the top of the rises, coffee (+15.3%), the fruit and vegetable juice (+12.9%) and mineral or spring water (+10,95 %).
+ 8% for housing, water, electricity and gas
Prices linked to electricity, gas and other fuels have jumped by 17.6% since January 2022, notably with the natural gas and city gas (+38.2%) and the “joint increase in regulated tariffs and market offers”, notes INSEE. We also find the other solid fuels (+45.5%). Soaring fuel prices have an impact on daily journeys: “We try to limit journeys, but with children’s activities it’s not always easy,” notes Yann, 48, who works in construction.
Regarding the maintenance and repair of housing (+6.6%), it is the services of joiners and carpenters who suffer the most from this rise in prices (+16.9%).
+ 5% for assets
The consumer price index has thus increased for all households, but in very different proportions depending on the socio-professional category of the reference person in the household. Overall, for working people, there has been a 5% increase in the cost of living over the last twelve months (since January 2022). Farmers seem to suffer the most from variations in the prices of an average basket including goods and services.
- Farmers : + 6.4% (between January 2022 and January 2023)
- Retired : + 5,9 %
- Craftsmen, merchants, entrepreneurs : + 5,5 %
- Intermediate professions : + 5,1 %
- Workers : + 5,1 %
- Employees : + 5 %
- Frames : + 4,9 %
