According to a study, households are able to adapt their behavior

Despite the rise in prices, banking events remained limited in 2023, adaptation by households, especially the most modest, due to their budgetary behavior, the Bank of France noted on Monday. Consumer prices are projected to increase by an average of 5.2% in 2022, followed by a 4.9% increase in 2023. However, in 2023, if the number of overdue cases has increased by 8% compared to 2022, it has been significantly lower (-15%). Levels in 2019, the last year before Covid.

Against this “A clear contradiction», the Bank de France’s Banking Inclusion Observatory (OIB) asked Craddock (Research Center for the Study and Observation of Living Conditions) to include questions on this topic in its survey annual report on living conditions, explains Marc Baguery, director of individuals. at the Banque de France during a press briefing on Monday. The study showed that 48% of low-income families (at least 30%) felt that “More often in red» over the course of twelve months than usual (and 38% of all households). But they adapted.

Strategy number one, noted by Craddock, 77% of the most modest (74% of all) tried to increase their resources: 46% of the most modest (and of all) reduced their savings, 22% (30% of all) sought to increase their resources through employment. To increase resources, 25% (14%) through social assistance, emergency assistance or relatives. Additionally, 41% of low-income households (36% of all) used at least one banking or payment system.

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Another strategy: 71% of low-income households (58% of full) have postponed or skipped spending, first on computer equipment (48% and 38% of all) but also food purchases (42% and 30%). 26% (17%) have not paid at least one bill. The rise in overdue debt cases accelerated slightly in late 2023, noted Mark Begury.

Marked by “ with reference to the beginning of 2024A drop in inflation“But also”A slight drop in unemployment“And maybe”Difficulty in restructuring the savings lever» Spent in 2023, Mark Begury told himself “Cautiously optimistic» : «At this stage we do not foresee an explosion of events (…), maybe a little more increase“, he concluded. The survey was conducted in October on a sample of 3,000 people aged 15 and over living in France.