Several measures will change the daily lives of the French at the start of this new month. “Liberation” takes stock.
Several notable measures will come into force this Monday, July 1st, or at the beginning of the month, and will change the daily lives of the French. Increase in the price of gas, specific consumer information measures in supermarkets, new savings plan for young people… Libé takes stock of the main changes.
Gas price increase
The price of gas will increase again, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE): an increase of 11.7% in July, compared to June. The average level of the reference price will be set at €129.20 including tax per megawatt hour (MWh), compared to €142.70/MWh in June. “This benchmark price is intended to serve as a compass for consumers who wish to compare supply offers”notes the CRE. The organization adds that this increase of €13.5/MWh including tax remains €4.7/MWh including tax lower than the January reference price (-3.5%). According to the commission, more than half of this increase is explained by the application of a “new tariff for natural gas distribution networks”. The price of gas on wholesale markets is also responsible for this increase.
Strengthened regulations in supermarkets
From this Monday, large stores of more than 400 meters will have the obligation to inform their customers in the event of «shrinkflation», that is to say if the quantity of a product available on the shelves decreases without its price decreasing. A ministerial decree regulates this practice. The Ministry of the Economy specifies that this “information must be provided by distributors of consumer products in large and medium-sized supermarkets, in the immediate vicinity of the products concerned”.
In concrete terms, the following information must be indicated on the shelf: “For this product, the quantity sold increased from X to Y and its price in (relevant unit of measurement) increased by…% or…€.” It must also appear in these physical stores during the two months following the marketing date of the industrial food and non-food products concerned (bottles of soda, packets of rice, detergent or cans, for example), which it whether national brand or private label products. On the other hand, “prepackaged foodstuffs whose quantity may vary during preparation (deli section for example) and foodstuffs sold in bulk” are not concerned.
Climate savings plan for young people
The future climate savings plan (PEAC), initiated by the green industry law, will be open to young people under 21 to invest in the ecological transition. The amount of payments is limited to 22,950 euros (ceiling equivalent to that of Livret A). Bercy specifies that the PEAC differs from regulated savings accounts – such as the Livret A or the LDDS – which offer fixed remuneration whose rate is decided by the public authorities: “this new savings plan is closer to a stock savings plan (PEA) or a retirement savings plan (PER) by giving subscribers the possibility of investing their savings in various vehicles (shares, bonds, etc. .)”.
When the plan is opened, the funds are blocked until the holder reaches the age of majority, provided that a minimum blocking period of five years is respected (for example, if you open a PEAC at 20 years, the blocking period will end when you turn 25). “After the lock-in period and until the plan is automatically closed at age 30, you can make partial withdrawals at any time.”indicates the Ministry of the Economy.
The DPE is simplified
The energy performance diagnosis (DPE) will evolve from this Monday, July 1, for housing with a surface area of less than or equal to 40m2. The method of calculating the energy label ranging from «A» – for the most efficient housing – at «G» – for the most energy-intensive housing – is modified. The objective is to remove from the category of “energy strainers” a certain number of these small areas. This concerns 140,000 housing units of less than 40 m² classified «F» or «G» – more than 15% of these surfaces, according to the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Revaluation of unemployment insurance
Unemployment insurance benefits will be increased by 1.2% on July 1, Unédic said on Thursday. This revaluation “would affect around 2 million compensated job seekers” out of some 2.7 million in total, according to a press release from the organization managed jointly by trade unions and employers’ organizations. Certain recipients of less than six months are not affected. A recipient who has not worked during the month and benefits from the minimum allowance will thus go from 979.29 euros gross to 991.07 euros gross, details Unédic.
The measure is criticized by the CGT, which denounces “the extreme weakness of this revaluation”. According to the union, “The government and employers continue to target unemployment benefit recipients” a few days before the early legislative elections. In mid-June, Gabriel Attal announced that the decree once again reforming unemployment insurance would be taken in the middle of the legislative campaign, “by July 1”.
