In the first quarter of 2024, the household confidence index stands at 45.3 points, up from 44.3 points in the previous quarter but down from 46.3 points recorded a year ago.
Concerning the standard of living, 82.5% of households report a deterioration over the last 12 months. Only 4.4% believe there is improvement. For the next 12 months, 56.9% of households expect a deterioration in the standard of living, 33.5% to maintain the same level and 9.6% to see an improvement.
In relation to their financial situation, 55.9% of households indicate that their income covers their expenses, 42.3% say they go into debt or draw on their savings, and 1.8% say they save part of their income. Regarding the evolution of their financial situation over the last 12 months, 56.2% compared to 3.5% of households consider that it has deteriorated. As for the expected change over the next 12 months, 16.5% of households, compared to 29.9%, expect an improvement.
The propensity to purchase durable goods remains low, with 80.7% versus 7.8% of households deeming the time inopportune.
The quarterly survey also reveals households’ perceptions of other aspects of their lives, including their future ability to save and changes in food prices. When it comes to saving, perceptions remain pessimistic, with only 9.3% of households planning to save over the next 12 months. As for the prices of food products, a large majority of households (96.9%) report an increase over the last 12 months. Forecasts for the next 12 months also remain pessimistic, with 76.3% of households expecting prices to rise.
