“…And for good reason: with purchasing power still constrained by food spending 20% more expensive than in 2021 and prices that, despite the pause in recent months, continue to rise (0.6% in March, 1.2% in April, 1 .7% in May, according to INSEE), fears for employment due to the economic crisis and the multiplication of redundancy plans, the threat of budget cuts and tax increases, or an anxious geopolitical climate, the French are watching their spending very closely. And they prefer to save, for those who can, more than to consume. As a result, despite a slight improvement in wages, food consumption is struggling to recover. In the first quarter they even fell by 0.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, according to INSEE, whose analysis is not limited to large retailers and includes restaurants. In March, they were even 3.2 per cent lower than in March 2024.”
