Here’s what will change for your wallet on January 1, 2025

2024 is coming to an end and will give way to a new calendar. Like every start of the year, several changes are to be expected. However, some have immediate repercussions on the purchasing power of households. Here is what changes on January 1, 2025, and what concretely awaits you.

As provided by law each year, retirees will see their basic pensions increased by 2.2%, in line with inflation, i.e. the average increase in consumer prices (excluding tobacco). Thus, for a basic pension of 1,200 euros for example, this increase represents an increase of 26.4 euros per month. This will be visible on the payment for the month of February.

This legal provision could have been modified if the previous government of Michel Barnier had not fallen. To contain the abysmal Social Security deficit – estimated at 18 billion euros in 2024 – the previous executive had in fact considered deviating from the Social Security Code, which provides for this indexation. After initially considering a six-month postponement of the revaluation, Michel Barnier favored another solution: an increase limited to 0.8% in January for all, followed by a second increase of 0.8% in July for pensions below 1,500 euros.

Households using natural gas for heating will see their bills increase. Indeed, its “benchmark” price, updated every month by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), rises in January 2025. Concretely, the gas used for cooking and hot water will see its average price increase to 0.146 euros including tax per kilowatt hour. For heating, the average price will increase from 0.112 euros including tax/kWh to 0.118 euros.

One nuance: this “benchmark” price is only indicative. Energy suppliers therefore remain free to pass on – or not – this increase to their customers. The latter are also always free to compare prices according to energy companies. The site of the Energy Mediator, an independent public authority, may prove to be a relevant tool in this area.

The end of a measure acclaimed by many French households… but much less by restaurateurs who called for its disappearance. As of January 1, the possibility of paying for all foodstuffs at the supermarket with meal vouchers will not be renewed. The reason? The fall of the previous executive. It caused the cessation of the examination of the bill extending the use of restaurant vouchers for all food products, directly consumable (sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, salads, drinks, ready meals, etc.), or no (flour, pasta, rice, meat, oils, fish, etc.).

Users of letters and parcels will be warned: universal postal service prices will increase by an average of 6.8% on January 1. The price of the Green Letter, for daily mailings, “which was 1.29 euros in 2024, will rise to 1.39 euros in 2025”indicates Bercy on its site. The Services Plus Letter, for sending the most important documents, will be sent “3.15 euros compared to 2.99 euros in 2024”. For its part, the price of the 20 g Registered Letter will change “from 5.36 euros to 5.74 euros”. That of the International Letter from 0 to 20 g will be « 2,10 euros »compared to 1.96 euros so far.

On the other hand, the price of the red e-letter, for urgent items delivered the next day, remains unchanged at 1.49 euros. As for the prices of Colissimo type parcels, these will increase on average by 5.2%, all destinations combined (France and international). Announced by La Poste last July, these increases are justified according to the group by inflation and the drop in mail volumes. As a reminder, prices for the universal postal service had already increased by 8.3% on average at the start of 2024.

Another measure which will negatively affect the portfolio of the French, the reduction in the annual interest rate of remuneration of housing savings plans (PEL). Previously set at 2.25%, it will therefore increase to 1.75%, according to the Official Journal of December 18, 2024. A clarification from Bercy should, however, reassure a certain number of future owners: “This reduction in the remuneration rate has no impact on plans opened before January 1, 2025”.

Also note that the rate of remuneration of a home savings plan is fixed when it is opened, and does not change during the course of the plan. For the record, the PEL rate, regulated by the State, had not fallen since August 2016, when it went from 1.50% to 1%. In January 2023, this was increased to 2%, then to 2.25% in 2024.

Public transport users in Ile-de-France will also be affected by price changes in 2025. Firstly, the price of the monthly Navigo package increases by 2.8%, which is equivalent to an increase of 2.40 euros. Concretely, the Ile-de-France residents concerned will now pay 88.80 euros for their monthly “Navigo pass”, compared to 86.40 euros until now. Knowing that the price of this was 84.10 euros in 2023, and… 75.20 euros in 2022. In addition, holders of the “Annual Navigo Pass” will see their bill increase by 26.40 euros , for an annual price of €976.80. In 2024, the increase was only 2.30 euros for the monthly package.

Another important measure: Ile-de-France Mobilités is introducing a single ticket at 2.50 euros, allowing travel on the metro, RER and Transilien throughout the region. This will therefore be the end of “T+ tickets” and origin-destination tickets. This new single ticket makes it possible to halve travel between the old zones 1 and 5. But it will be less delighting to residents of inner-city Paris, who will have to pay 2.50 euros for a simple metro ticket, compared to 2.15 euros. previously.

After ten years of existence, the Pinel system for rental investors disappears. Entered into force on September 1, 2014, this investment system gave the right to a tax reduction on the purchase price of rented accommodation. This, while respecting these main conditions: housing located in a collective residential building, capping of rent and tenant income, minimum overall level of energy performance, housing built in an area presenting an imbalance between supply and demand, Initial rental period of 6 or 9 years, which can be extended up to 12 years (with an increasing tax advantage).

But according to a report from the Court of Auditors published at the beginning of September, this tax loophole would have “imperfectly” fulfilled its objectives. In particular by only partially contributing to the construction of housing for low-income households in stressed areas. Furthermore, the institution also indicated that the system had mainly favored individual investors “well-off”looking for a tax exemption tool. In addition, the measure has “created a form of dependence of builder developers on these devices”.

It has now become a habit for tobacco consumers. The price of a pack of cigarettes will increase again on January 1st. According to French customs, this increase will reach up to one euro more for a pack of 20 cigarettes. And this, all brands combined. Overall, the price of a package will pass the 12.50 euro mark. Also, rolling tobacco, cigars, or heating tobacco (for pipes), will not be spared by these price changes.