French people reduce car use and clothing purchases above all, Actualité/Actu Quotidien

First concern of the French (42%) in the face of the war in Ukraine (38%), climate change (32%) and the health crisis (12%), inflation is today concretely felt on a daily basis by 56% of households, according to a survey by NielsenIQ from a panel of consumers surveyed between April 29 and May 8, 2022.

Estimated at around €90 per month on average by the NielsenIQ Institute, partner of 60 Million consumers for its Inflation Observatory, this drop results in an additional expense of €27 for fuel, €32 for energy and €30 for everyday consumer products.

The unequal French in the face of rising prices

The financial burden can vary quite greatly from one household to another, depending on its composition (with or without children), its income (the poorest households are the most exposed to food price increases because base are the most strongly affected, see framed), and, above all, the use of a vehicle: between an urban household that uses public transport exclusively and a family living in a suburban area that makes daily trips by car, the difference in the “load” of the inflation is over a third, based on NielsenIQ’s assessment!

More than a third of households “weakened” by inflation

The general rise in prices is already weighing on 38% of households, who say they are “ weakened by inflation, while more than 8 in 10 people are “very careful” about their consumer spending.

To save money, the French limit their spending on fuel and car use (49%), spending on clothing (47%) and spending on leisure activities outside the home (meals, cinema, outings) as a priority. cultural events, holidays, etc. (46%).

Take advantage of promotions, the first reflex to reduce the bill

Households mainly prefer to cut back on these items rather than on everyday consumption items, such as food (18%), beauty and hygiene products (14%) and home maintenance (14%). But here again, the priorities vary according to the level of household wealth. Among the most weakened » by inflation, ie the most modest, the food item, marginally more important, is revised upwards in 27% of cases.

Asked how they limit the total amount of their basket of consumer products before doing so on specific purchasing categories, the French target promotional operations as a priority (46%), compare prices more carefully ( 44%) and prefer purchases whose expiry date is close (39%). More than a quarter also reduce their consumption of meat and fish (27%), and 24% “pleasure” purchases (wine, chocolate, etc.).

Inflation is expected to rise in the weeks to come, and prices on supermarket shelves will still soar by 7 to 10% by the start of the school year, predicts the Federation of Commerce and Distribution: according to NielsenIQ, a general increase of 7% in the prices of everyday consumer products would represent an additional monthly expense of €30 per household…