# In France, declining purchasing power and the high cost of living at the end of 2026 > Starting October 27, 2026, French households with incomes close to the median wage testify to the weight of mandatory expenses, while analyses on declining purchasing power multiply; on October 28, a Que Choisir analysis also highlights higher prices for limited-edition Halloween products, with Haribo cited. On October 29, food discount stores attract customers amid rising prices, then on October 30 INSEE indicates that inflation would reach 3.4% year-on-year in October, driven by energy, with Halloween professionals worried about a drop in spending and consumers adopting promotions, store brands and anti-waste products. On October 31, the INSEE director estimates that the purchasing power crisis is not unprecedented, while a new Saturday of mobilization against the high cost of living takes place. On November 1, a "no heating before December" challenge circulates on social media, the French turn to second-hand and unsold goods, and candy manufacturers are analyzed for their influence on family spending at Halloween. An analysis published the same day revisits real purchasing power and judges that the aid solution is no longer possible without growth. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 13 events nationwide, followed from 27 October 2026 to 1 November 2026. 23 articles from 13 sources (economy); last updated on 1 November 2026 at 16:15. - Status: ongoing - Category: Economy - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 27 October 2026 at 08:30 - Updated: 1 November 2026 at 16:15 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/201-in-france-declining-purchasing-power-and-the-high-cost-of-living-at-the-end-of ## Coverage angles The three sides cover the same economic facts (3.4% inflation, declining purchasing power, mobilization against the high cost of living) but differ in angle: the left focuses on commercial strategies and household budgets, the center on INSEE data, testimonies and everyday adaptations, the right on structural causes and alternative consumer solutions. **Common ground** - Inflation reaches 3.4% year-on-year in October 2026, a high since January 2024, driven by energy - French purchasing power is declining - Consumers adapt their purchases in the face of rising prices - A mobilization against the high cost of living takes place in late October **Differences** - The left emphasizes candy manufacturers' Halloween strategies, an angle absent from center and right - The right mentions social and employer contributions as a cause of purchasing power erosion and the 2027 presidential campaign, absent from other sides - The center cites the INSEE director general judging the crisis not unprecedented, an element not taken up by left and right ## Timeline (13 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 — [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 — [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 — [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. 1 sources, 1 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 --- Cite as: Acturadar, “In France, declining purchasing power and the high cost of living at the end of 2026”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/201-in-france-declining-purchasing-power-and-the-high-cost-of-living-at-the-end-of Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology