Increase in the price of gas, revaluation of unemployment benefits, consumer information, and energy performance diagnosis (DPE): find out everything that is changing from July 1.
Increase in gas prices
The average gas bill will increase by 11.7% for millions of French people, an annual increase of around 124 euros. According to the Ministry of Economy, “This development is mainly due to the application of the new tariff for natural gas distribution networks and the increase in wholesale natural gas prices”The average annual household bill is expected to increase from 1,060 euros to 1,184 euros, according to data from the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).
Transparency on “shrinkflation”
From July 1, supermarkets will have to inform customers more explicitly if products sold are affected by “shrinkflation” practices, that is to say when products are sold in smaller quantities for an equivalent price. This legal practice makes price increases less noticeable to consumers.
The DPE is changing for small areas
The method of calculating the energy performance diagnosis (DPE) of housing is changing for areas of less than 40 square meters. This change should allow 140,000 homes to move out of energy classes F and G, which should gradually be subject to rental bans.
The calculations carried out “between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2024, housing of this size may be subject to a document certifying the new DPE label”indicates the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Revaluation of unemployment benefits
Unemployment insurance benefits will be increased by 1.2% on July 1. This revaluation “would affect around 2 million compensated job seekers” out of around 2.7 million in total, according to Unédic. Some beneficiaries of less than six months are not affected.
The rules governing unemployment insurance also expire on Monday, requiring a new decree that is long overdue. According to the outgoing government’s commitment, the rules in force must be extended for five months before being tightened from December 1: you would have to have worked 8 months out of the last 20 months to be able to receive compensation, compared to 6 months out of the last 24 months currently. For unemployed people under 57, the maximum duration of compensation would be reduced to 15 months.
But a possible change of majority could reshuffle the cards.
Rural attractiveness
The new “France Ruralités Revitalisation” zoning, which comes into force on July 1 to strengthen the attractiveness of rural areas, benefits 17,700 small municipalities. Companies that set up there will be able to benefit from exemptions from income tax, business property tax and property tax on built properties. This system is often cited by elected officials as a means of attracting medical and paramedical professions to rural areas.
Contribution for victims of attacks
The amount of the contribution to the Guarantee Fund for victims of acts of terrorism and other offenses increases by 0.60 euros from July 1, brought to 6.50 euros per property insurance contract (car, home. ..). This will increase the resources of the fund, intended to compensate victims of acts of terrorism, people injured, physically or psychologically, or the beneficiaries of deceased people.
“Black box” embedded in vehicles
Several safety equipment reserved for high-end cars becomes compulsory from July 7 for all new cars and vans sold in Europe, such as speed adapter depending on limits, lane keeping assistance, radars or reversing camera, attention loss warning and a “black box” on each vehicle.
