# French purchasing power: persistent decline and adaptations to the high cost of living > In late October 2026, the Director General of INSEE estimates that the purchasing power of the French should decline for the second consecutive year, while a mobilization against the high cost of living is taking place. In early November, households are turning to second-hand goods, unsold items, and discount stores, while a 'no heating before December' challenge is circulating on social media. In Saint-Étienne, students are adapting their diet to their shrinking budget, and a survey indicates that 65% of precarious students skip at least one meal per week. Economists' analyses highlight a strong perception of the decline in purchasing power, linked in particular to rises in gas and food prices. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 28 events nationwide, followed from 27 October 2026 to 3 November 2026. 53 articles from 24 sources (economy, social, health); last updated on 3 November 2026 at 10:11. - Status: ongoing - Category: Economy, Social, Health - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 27 October 2026 at 08:30 - Updated: 3 November 2026 at 10:11 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/201-french-purchasing-power-persistent-decline-and-adaptations-to-the-high-cost-of ## Reported figures - 10 euros - 15 euros - 16 euros - 14,90 € - 15 € ## Coverage angles All three sides cover the same reality of declining purchasing power and inflation, but the left emphasizes social exasperation and discount stores, the center emphasizes numerical data and daily adaptations, the right emphasizes structural causes and individual solutions. **Common ground** - Inflation reaches 3.4% year-on-year in October 2026, the highest since January 2024, driven by energy. - Purchasing power declines for the second consecutive year. - The French adapt their spending: discount, promotions, second-hand, unsold goods. - A mobilization against the high cost of living takes place on 31 October. **Differences** - The left highlights exasperation and demonstrations, an angle scarcely present on the right. - The right insists on structural causes (contributions, constrained expenses) and the 2027 presidential deadline, absent on the left. - The center cites INSEE's analysis judging the crisis not unprecedented, an angle not picked up by the other sides. - The left underscores the risks of overconsumption linked to discount stores, an angle absent elsewhere. ## Timeline (28 events) ### 27 October 2026 — [Constrained expenses weigh heavily on household budgets](https://acturadar.com/en/events/1521-constrained-expenses-weigh-heavily-on-household-budgets.md) Fuel, housing, energy: some French people with incomes close to the median wage testify to the heavy burden of constrained expenses and cut into leisure and pleasure purchases. 1 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 28 October 2026 — [Anti-crisis restaurant menus, a miracle solution?](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2527-anti-crisis-restaurant-menus-a-miracle-solution.md) Facing falling purchasing power, restaurants are offering daily specials for under 10 euros and menus priced at 15 or 16 euros, a strategy whose effectiveness is being questioned. 2 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide ### 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 ### 28 October 2026 — [Isère: food insecurity worsens, charities overwhelmed](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2935-isere-food-insecurity-worsens-charities-overwhelmed.md) More and more residents of Isère, including workers, retirees and students, are seeking food aid. Charities are struggling to keep up with growing needs and insufficient donations. 1 sources, 1 articles · Isère ### 28 October 2026 — [Haribo accused of inflating prices for Halloween](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3008-haribo-accused-of-inflating-prices-for-halloween.md) An analysis by Que Choisir shows that candy prices are falling overall, but that limited-edition Halloween products are being sold at much higher prices. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [Limoges: heavy turnout at food aid for students](https://acturadar.com/en/events/5496-limoges-heavy-turnout-at-food-aid-for-students.md) At its latest distribution in Limoges, Secours populaire had to turn away several dozen students for lack of supplies, amid rising demand. 1 sources, 1 articles · Limoges — Haute-Vienne ### 29 October 2026 — [Food discount stores attract customers amid rising prices](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4467-food-discount-stores-attract-customers-amid-rising-prices.md) Amid a cost-of-living crisis, food discount chains, which have around 300 outlets in France, are attracting more and more consumers. 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 ### 30 October 2026 — [High cost of living weighs on French Halloween spending](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4751-high-cost-of-living-weighs-on-french-halloween-spending.md) Faced with declining purchasing power, the French could reduce their Halloween spending, worrying industry professionals. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 30 October 2026 — [French people multiply strategies to reduce the cost of their groceries](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4895-french-people-multiply-strategies-to-reduce-the-cost-of-their-groceries.md) Faced with rising food prices, French consumers are adopting promotions, store brands and anti-waste products to reduce their spending. The sector has adapted to these new behaviors. 1 sources, 1 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 ### 31 October 2026 — [Le pouvoir d'achat des Français en baisse, analyses et perspectives](https://acturadar.com/en/events/5831-le-pouvoir-d-achat-des-francais-en-baisse-analyses-et-perspectives.md) Alors qu'un nouveau samedi de mobilisation contre la vie chère se tient, les médias font le point sur la baisse du pouvoir d'achat des Français et ses perspectives. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 1 November 2026 — [Le défi « pas de chauffage avant décembre » refait surface sur les réseaux sociaux](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6157-le-defi-pas-de-chauffage-avant-decembre-refait-surface-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux.md) Un défi consistant à repousser l'allumage du chauffage circule sur les réseaux sociaux, porté par les préoccupations liées au coût de l'énergie. 2 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide ### 1 November 2026 — [Face à la vie chère, les Français se tournent vers la seconde main et les invendus](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6181-face-a-la-vie-chere-les-francais-se-tournent-vers-la-seconde-main-et-les.md) Vêtements d'occasion, paniers d'invendus, location d'objets : les plateformes comme Vinted et Too Good To Go gagnent de nouveaux adeptes à mesure que la vie chère pèse sur les budgets des ménages. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 1 November 2026 — [Comment les fabricants de bonbons poussent les dépenses des familles à Halloween](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6192-comment-les-fabricants-de-bonbons-poussent-les-depenses-des-familles-a-halloween.md) Malgré des prix en baisse par rapport à l'an dernier, les industriels du bonbon parviennent à faire dépenser davantage aux familles, en particulier pour Halloween. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 1 November 2026 — [Analyse du pouvoir d'achat réel et de ses perspectives](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6463-analyse-du-pouvoir-d-achat-reel-et-de-ses-perspectives.md) Une analyse revient sur la réalité du pouvoir d'achat des Français et estime que la solution des aides n'est plus possible sans croissance. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 1 November 2026 — [La « fast-déco » bouleverse le marché des objets à prix cassés](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6570-la-fast-deco-bouleverse-le-marche-des-objets-a-prix-casses.md) Des objets de décoration à prix très bas envahissent magasins et réseaux sociaux, au risque d'une surconsommation et d'une concurrence accrue pour les enseignes historiques. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 2 November 2026 — [In Saint-Étienne, students forced to adapt their food spending to declining purchasing power](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6721-in-saint-etienne-students-forced-to-adapt-their-food-spending-to-declining.md) Facing tight budgets, students in Saint-Étienne are counting every euro and turning to solidarity grocery stores or university restaurants to feed themselves. 1 sources, 1 articles · Saint-Étienne — Loire ### 2 November 2026 — [The expansion of discount stores is disrupting retail in France](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6738-the-expansion-of-discount-stores-is-disrupting-retail-in-france.md) Driven by households' financial difficulties, discount retailers such as Action, Normal and Hema are experiencing spectacular expansion in French retail. 1 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 2 November 2026 — [Le pouvoir d'achat des classes moyennes en question face à la hausse des dépenses contraintes](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6851-le-pouvoir-d-achat-des-classes-moyennes-en-question-face-a-la-hausse-des.md) Une analyse compare l'évolution des grandes dépenses des ménages (logement, garde d'enfants, études, loisirs) sur quarante ans. Des économistes français prolongent la réflexion sur le recul du pouvoir d'achat réel. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 2 November 2026 — [Inflation : une économiste souligne la forte perception de baisse du pouvoir d'achat](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6890-inflation-une-economiste-souligne-la-forte-perception-de-baisse-du-pouvoir-d.md) L'économiste Pascale Hébel revient sur les hausses de prix du gaz et de l'alimentation qui pèsent sur le pouvoir d'achat, jugeant très forte la proportion de Français qui ressentent cette baisse. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 2 November 2026 — [Le recul du pouvoir d'achat exaspère les Français](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7632-le-recul-du-pouvoir-d-achat-exaspere-les-francais.md) Les Français expriment leur exaspération face à la baisse de leur pouvoir d'achat, dans un contexte d'inflation persistante. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 2 November 2026 — [À Toulouse, les enseignes discount attirent les clients face à la hausse des prix](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7009-a-toulouse-les-enseignes-discount-attirent-les-clients-face-a-la-hausse-des-prix.md) Dans le centre commercial de Compans-Caffarelli à Toulouse, les enseignes à prix cassés comme Action et Normal séduisent des consommateurs en quête de bonnes affaires. 1 sources, 1 articles · Toulouse — Haute-Garonne ### 2 November 2026 — [Hausse des prix : les applications de comparaison de courses se multiplient](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7604-hausse-des-prix-les-applications-de-comparaison-de-courses-se-multiplient.md) Face à la hausse des prix alimentaires, de nouvelles applications permettent de comparer les tarifs des produits en magasin. Leur efficacité dépend de la participation des utilisateurs. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 3 November 2026 — [« Additive washing »: products labeled 'preservative-free' or 'colorant-free' are accused of masking the presence of numerous other additives, a practice described as 'additive washing'.](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7722-additive-washing-products-labeled-preservative-free-or-colorant-free-are.md) Products bearing 'preservative-free' or 'colorant-free' claims are accused of masking the presence of numerous other additives, a practice described as 'additive washing'. 10 sources, 12 articles · Nationwide ### 3 November 2026 — [65 % des étudiants précaires sautent au moins un repas par semaine](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7763-65-des-etudiants-precaires-sautent-au-moins-un-repas-par-semaine.md) Une part importante des étudiants en situation de précarité renonce à des repas faute de moyens. Ils se tournent vers les épiceries solidaires et les restaurants universitaires pour manger à moindre coût. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 3 November 2026 — [Lannion: students unsure they can eat at the university restaurant for 1 euro](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7927-lannion-students-unsure-they-can-eat-at-the-university-restaurant-for-1-euro.md) In Lannion, students returned to the university restaurant on November 2 without being sure they could have lunch there, the generalization of the 1-euro meal creating tensions. 1 sources, 1 articles · Lannion — Côtes-d'Armor ### 3 November 2026 — [Inflation reaches 3.4% year-on-year in October, food retailers under pressure](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7956-inflation-reaches-3-4-year-on-year-in-october-food-retailers-under-pressure.md) Inflation rose 3.4% year-on-year in October. Food retailers are facing rising raw material costs and are trying to limit the pass-through to prices. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide --- Cite as: Acturadar, “French purchasing power: persistent decline and adaptations to the high cost of living”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/201-french-purchasing-power-persistent-decline-and-adaptations-to-the-high-cost-of Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology