France’s consumer confidence index for December came in at 90, matching market expectations and up slightly from November’s 89. Despite this improvement, the figure remains well below the long-term average of 100. The last time French consumer confidence reached this level was in October 2021.

Breaking down the components, households’ views on the past standard of living improved, with the indicator rising to -70. Conversely, expectations for the future standard of living edged lower to -57. Both figures remain significantly below their long-term averages, indicating continued caution among consumers.

Concerns about unemployment have eased, with the index dropping to 45 from its June peak of 57. Sentiment on inflation has also shifted, as the balance of households reporting sharply rising prices over the past twelve months climbed to its highest level since February 2025.

Overall, the data suggests that French consumer confidence showed little optimism throughout last year. However, the small improvements noted in the latter months hint at a modest recovery following a challenging first half of the year.

Original Source: Justin Low of investinglive.com