The future climate savings plan, intended for those under 21, is being launched. The payments must be used “to finance projects linked to the ecological transition”.
The summer holidays are coming with their share of changes in the daily lives of the French. On the agenda of changes from 1is July: increase in the price of gas, new savings opportunity for the youngest, but also better display of price increases in supermarkets.
Here are the main new features:
New increase in gas prices
Au 1is July, the benchmark price of gas will increase by 11.7% compared to the month of June, with an average level which will be 129.20 euros/MWh including tax. According to the Ministry of the Economy, “this development mainly results from the application of the new tariff for natural gas distribution networks and the increase in wholesale prices of natural gas”.
“The benchmark price is given for information purposes only,” Emmanuelle Wargon, president of the CRE, reminded Le Parisien in June. “Suppliers have complete freedom to set their offers as they see fit. And in particular, the way in which they want to pass on the upcoming increase.”
An alternative to the youth booklet
This July 1st marks the launch of the future climate savings plan, a product intended only for those under 21. The payments must be used “to finance projects linked to the ecological transition.”
Like the livret 1, the ceiling of this plan is set at a maximum of 22,950 euros. It is possible to open it as soon as the child is born and the money is blocked until the child reaches the age of majority. The rate of remuneration is not set by the State, unlike other savings plans or the livret jeune, intended for those under 25. It depends on the investments made (and potentially at risk) by the owner of the plan.
Fight against “shrinkflation”
From now on, supermarkets are required to display price increases for products whose quantities have been reduced. This measure aims to protect consumers from “shrinkflation”, a process which consists of reducing the size of a product while maintaining the same price, or even increasing it.
Evolution of DPE for small areas
This change will allow 140,000 homes to be removed from the “energy sieve” category. From today, homes with a surface area of less than or equal to 40m² will benefit from a new method of calculating their energy performance diagnosis (DPE).
Calculations carried out “between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2024 on housing of this size may be the subject of a document which attests to the new DPE label”, underlines the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Revaluation of unemployment compensation
Ce 1is July, unemployment insurance benefits are increased by 1.2%. According to Unédic, this increase “would affect approximately 2 million job seekers receiving benefits” out of approximately 2.7 million in total. However, some beneficiaries of less than six months are not affected.
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 and sees its total increased to 6.50 euros per property insurance contract (car, home, etc.).
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 (spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren , siblings).
More safety on new vehicles
Several safety features reserved for high-end cars will become mandatory from July 7 for all new cars and vans sold in Europe, such as speed adaptors, lane keeping assistance, radars or reversing cameras, attention loss warning and a “black box” on each vehicle.
