Good news for the wallet in January, bad news in February. If taxpayers were able to take advantage of the income tax cut a few days ago, on the other hand, we will have to pay more for certain services from this Saturday. Taxi, tolls, electricity: their prices increase on February 1, but for different reasons. Explanations.
Tolls: an increase of 0.85% on average
The toll prices of the 142 or so portions of motorways conceded, or just over 9,000 km of track, are still increasing, as they do every year. For 2020, the increase is 0.85%. Apparently a lesser evil since Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, the Secretary of State for Transport initially expected an increase of between 1 and 1.5%. “Be careful, however, warns Mathieu Escot, director of studies at the consumer defense association UFC-Que Choisir. Because this national average can hide significant price disparities from one section of motorway to another. "
The changes in prices take into account inflation, works or state fees. But also the date of construction of the section of motorway concerned. With an implacable logic: the more recent this portion, the more the toll costs, and the greater its increase.
In detail, the increases should range from 0.71% for the Cofiroute network (Vinci Autoroutes) to 1.07% for the AREA motorways (Eiffage group). For the ASF network, the increase should be 0.96%. Result: a Paris-Deauville operated by SAPN (Abertis) will now cost 21 euros, against 20.80 previously. A Paris-Lille insured by the Sanef network (Abertis group) will go from 16.90 to 17 euros on average. And it will cost 20 cents more between Lyon and Orange (17.90 euros against 17.70 previously).
"Each time we put our noses in this business, we take the measure of the total absence of state governance in this area, and the price drift of motorway companies, protests François Carlier, the general delegate of the CLCV. And the most serious institutions, starting with the Court of Auditors and the Competition Authority, even if they raise the hare very regularly, unfortunately that never changes much. "
Electricity: 21 euros per year more
2.4%. This is the average increase that will be applied from this Saturday to the (blue) regulated electricity prices, marketed by the historic operator EDF. This increase concerns individuals, as well as small professionals. Last year, in the midst of the Yellow Vests crisis, the government had chosen to freeze prices during the winter, the sharp increase of 5.9% was only applied on June 1.
A delay that must now be paid: the new increase is "in particular made up of a 1.5% catch-up, linked to the delay in the entry into force of the tariff in 2019", we stress to the Ministry of Ecological and united transition. According to calculations by the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), this represents 21 euros per year more on the average bill of a residential consumer.
Taxi: twice as much as inflation
Dear, dearest taxi rides? From this Saturday, you will have to pay a few euros more to get around by taxi. On average, the increase will be 2%, while according to INSEE, inflation in 2019 was only 1.1%. Over ten years, taxi fare has jumped 20.6% when inflation over the period stood at 12.2%.
Increases decided by the State, in consultation with the taxi unions. In France, it is not the driver who decides the fare but the Minister of the Economy. It is then up to each prefect to fix, each year, the ceiling prices in his department, within the limits given by the national decree. According to national figures published in the Official Journal, the minimum price for a race goes from 7.10 € to 7.30 euros (+ 20 cents). Support - price displayed on the counter when you get in the taxi - is capped at 4.18 euros against 4.10. As for the price per kilometer, it earns two cents, at 1.12 euros.
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But the biggest revolution is taking place on the flat rates for races between Paris and Ile-de-France airports. Appeared in March 2016, these packages were intended to secure the price of the race for tourists. Unchanged for four years, you now have to pay 53 euros (+ 3 euros) between Roissy and Paris right bank. And 58 euros (+3 euros) if you live on the left bank. For Orly, the inhabitants of the right bank of the capital will pay 37 euros (+2 euros) and 32 euros (+2 euros) for those of the left bank.
But are these increases disproportionate? Obviously not, according to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and the Suppression of Fraud (DGCCRF), which takes refuge behind the arduous regulations. The consumer policeman, responsible for enforcing these increases, recalls that prices fluctuate according to "the development of fuel prices, vehicle prices, as well as their repair and maintenance costs and insurance prices" .
“There is nothing scandalous, sweeps Michel Gougeon, president of the national federation of the craftsmen of the taxi (Fnat). In 2017 and 2018, prices were frozen. If we benefit from a partial reimbursement from TICPE ( Editor's note: internal consumption tax on energy products ), the increase in fuel weighs on our activity ”. Even slight annoyance at Karim Asnoun of the CGT-taxi: “In ten years the VAT has gone from 5.5% to 7% under Nicolas Sarkozy and from 7% to 10% under François Hollande. And that is not money for the drivers but for the state. ”
The fact remains that this increase is not unanimous. Of the five taxi unions, one opposed the increase. “The current prices are good, says Didier Hogrel, president of the national taxi federation (FNDT). Faced with wild competition from hybrid bikes, we must avoid shooting ourselves in the foot. ” And the boss of the FNDT to specify: "The drivers are not obliged to pass on the increase".