# Decline in French purchasing power and inflation at 3.4% in October 2026 > On October 28, 2026, an analysis presents the erosion of household purchasing power, linked notably to the rise in compulsory expenses and social and employer contributions, and which has become a central theme of the 2027 campaign. On October 30, INSEE indicates that consumer prices would increase by 3.4% year-on-year in October 2026, due to the acceleration of energy prices. On October 31, the director general of INSEE, Fabrice Lenglart, estimates that the purchasing power crisis is not unprecedented, while French purchasing power should decline for the second consecutive year in 2026. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 3 events nationwide, followed from 28 October 2026 to 31 October 2026. 10 articles from 8 sources (economy); last updated on 31 October 2026 at 07:30. - Status: ongoing - Category: Economy - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 28 October 2026 at 10:35 - Updated: 31 October 2026 at 07:30 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/201-decline-in-french-purchasing-power-and-inflation-at-3-4-in-october-2026 ## Coverage angles Both sides rely on the same INSEE figures (inflation at 3.4% year-on-year in October), but the center emphasizes the statistical analysis and INSEE's contextualization, while the right insists on the structural causes of the erosion of purchasing power and its political dimension for 2027. **Common ground** - Inflation reaches 3.4% year-on-year in October 2026, after 3.1% in September, according to INSEE - It is the highest level since January 2024 - The price increase is driven by energy - French purchasing power is declining **Differences** - The center cites INSEE's analysis that the purchasing power crisis is not unprecedented, an angle absent from the provided right-wing articles - The right highlights social and employer contributions as a cause of the erosion of purchasing power, an element not mentioned by the center - The right explicitly places the issue in the 2027 presidential campaign, which the center does not do in the provided excerpts ## Timeline (3 events) ### 28 October 2026 — [Why French purchasing power is declining](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2640-why-french-purchasing-power-is-declining.md) Analysis of the causes behind the erosion of household purchasing power: rising compulsory expenses and social and employer contributions, a central theme of the 2027 campaign. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 30 October 2026 — [Inflation reaches 3.4% year-on-year in October 2026](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4646-inflation-reaches-3-4-year-on-year-in-october-2026.md) According to INSEE, consumer prices would increase by 3.4% year-on-year in October 2026, driven by acceleration in energy prices. 7 sources, 8 articles · Nationwide ### 31 October 2026 — [Le directeur de l'Insee analyse le recul du pouvoir d'achat des Français](https://acturadar.com/en/events/5566-le-directeur-de-l-insee-analyse-le-recul-du-pouvoir-d-achat-des-francais.md) Fabrice Lenglart, directeur général de l'Insee, estime que la crise du pouvoir d'achat n'est pas inédite, alors que celui des Français devrait reculer pour la deuxième année consécutive en 2026. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Decline in French purchasing power and inflation at 3.4% in October 2026”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/201-decline-in-french-purchasing-power-and-inflation-at-3-4-in-october-2026 Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology