French Consumer Confidence Falls to 80 in October, Lowest Since June 2013, as Protests Sweep the Country
French consumer confidence fell by 5 points to 80 in October, its lowest level since June 2013, the national statistics agency INSEE said on Tuesday, October 27, amid widespread protests in the country. France is being hit by a wave of protests that began with small student demonstrations in suburban Paris in September to denounce school conditions and swiftly broadened into a wider protest against the government's economic policies.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected a reading of 85, the same as the revised September number, and the index remains well below its long-term average of 100 between January 1987 and December 2025.
The proportion of consumers who believe prices have risen sharply over the past 12 months rose by 8 points, having already gained 6 in September. Households' sentiment toward their past and future personal financial situations dropped by 9 and 6 points respectively, fears over the trend in unemployment rose by 5 points following a fall in September, and the proportion of households considering this a good time to make savings fell by 6 points, while views on their current ability to save remained stable.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：2026年10月17日巴黎抗议期间，一名抗议者抱着被拆下的「République–Voltaire」路牌走过街头，消防员正在扑灭一辆被焚汽车（资料图）。图片：Jorge Jaramillo（JJxFile）摄，CC BY 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）。Photo: A protester carries a torn-down République-Voltaire street sign as firefighters douse a burned car during the October 17, 2026 Paris protests (file photo). Credit: Jorge Jaramillo (JJxFile), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
