The health and economic crisis has serious consequences for some French people.
This is what a study by Intrum reveals, according to which nearly a third (28%) say they have been forced to borrow to pay their bills in the past six months.
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A higher figure than in 2020 (21%) but also higher than the European level (23%), as indicated by the ninth edition of this survey which provides an overview of the financial situation of European and French households leaving crisis.
In addition, 27% of French people surveyed admit to having paid one or more invoices late and 49% admit that this has happened to them regularly.
Regarding loans taken out by households in France, 32% of respondents said they borrow sums of up to 25% of their monthly income to cover their essential expenses, against 25% of respondents at European level.
France is thus the second country to borrow after the United Kingdom and Spain, both at 37%.
More generally, 40% of French people (compared to 37% of Europeans) believe that their financial situation has deteriorated in recent months, particularly with regard to their ability to pay their bills but also to save.
And for more than one in four (27%) the situation is not likely to improve anytime soon.
They believe that the crisis will still have a negative impact for more than two years.
Fear of inflation
This observation can be explained, on the one hand, by the reduction or end of government aid granted to companies affected by the health crisis.
36% of respondents believe that it is one of the aggravating factors of their financial situation.
But they are more likely (67%) to point the finger at inflation, in particular the prices of fuel, food and everyday consumption, the study further indicates.
See also Euro zone: driven by energy prices, inflation at a record level in November
For several months, inflation has become a source of growing concern both for the European Union, which ensures that it will only be temporary for households. Among the French, the fear of an uncontrolled price increase is also felt. And for good reason, in November, consumer prices increased by 2.8% against 2.6% in October, according to a first provisional estimate published on Tuesday by INSEE. Thus, 67% of them say they are concerned about the impact of general inflation on their financial situation, according to the Intrum survey which notes, however, that only 53% correctly calculate the impact of the rise in prices on their savings. .
The annual report is produced by Intrum and based on a questionnaire administered simultaneously in 24 European countries. 24,012 consumers participated in the 2021 edition.
