276 euros.
This is the average amount that the French declared in January to set aside each month, according to a survey conducted at the end of January by Opinion Way for Meilleurplacement.com (advisor in savings and investment solutions) *.
This amount even reaches 281 euros among young people aged 18-24.
A surprising figure but carried since the beginning of the health crisis by the fear of the future and a sudden slowdown in consumption.
Read also: A savings book for the social economy
The uncertainties and anxieties brought by the Covid-19 have thus largely pushed most French people to turn to savings.
According to this survey, one in two French people assures that the health crisis made them realize that it was important to save.
For young people aged 18-24, this proportion even reaches 60%, because of concern for their future professional.
“
It turns out that the health crisis hit the country when we were not already in a situation of full employment.
The crisis has exacerbated the fear vis-à-vis the precariousness and employment that young people could already experience
, ”analyzes Yannick Hamon, spokesperson for Meilleurplacement.com.
For this fraction of the population, savings would therefore appear to be an adequate tool to anticipate potential instability in terms of employment, but also to finance retirement as early as possible.
“
It has been a year or two that young people have saved more for their retirement, because they are afraid of not having enough time to save later,
” continues the spokesperson.
How to explain that young people can put money aside?
Mainly due to the decrease in consumption during the various confinements.
Overall, out of the 50% of those surveyed who said they were saving at least as much as before the health crisis, 78% of them justify it by reducing spending.
And according to Yannick Hamon, this phenomenon particularly concerns young people: “
They no longer spend in bars, cinemas or restaurants, and many have returned to live with their parents, which relieves them of the charges to pay.
In the end, their expenses fell to 0 with the health crisis
, ”points out Yannick Hamon.
And for those who continue to receive benefits, such as APLs, “
this situation allows them to save them.
"
Seniors, major contributors to Covid savings
However, even if many young people have saved in 2020, "
they are not the ones who make the largest volumes
", specifies Philippe Crevel, director of the Cercle de l'Épargne, at
Le Figaro
.
Traditionally, it is the elderly (65 and over) who save heavily: “
Most retirees have repaid their loans and no longer have dependent children, which makes it easier for them to save money.
», Says the specialist.
This trend has been exacerbated by the health crisis, as 17% of seniors report saving more than 500 euros per month.
Like young people, they have sharply reduced their consumption.
"
Seniors are those who travel, who go to see shows ... between successive confinements and the fear of catching the virus, they no longer spent in these activities.
It is quite logical that they contribute the most to the Covid pot
, ”analyzes Philippe Crevel.
Will this “Covid pot” remain intact?
Not if households regain confidence in the future and the measures restricting consumption are lifted, according to Yannick Hamon.
Because savings accumulate mainly on the current account, on the livret A and on the sustainable development and solidarity booklet, which makes it easy to recover and to spend.
In all, 70% of respondents say they have one of these booklets.
Read also: The booklet A will be used to finance the recovery plan
(*)
The survey was carried out on January 27 and 28, 2021 on a sample of 1035 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.