Risk of rotating load shedding, calls for sobriety... The forecasts for this winter are chilling.
And yet, soaring energy prices are making households cautious about turning on their heating.
Anxious to limit their energy bills, the French therefore equip themselves, instead rushing to “
anti-cold
” products.
Insulation for doors and windows, duvets, plaids, hot water bottles... While all of these products regularly see their sales jump as winter approaches, many brands agree that the surge is historic this year.
The most far-sighted have turned to household equipment, including heaters.
Like other brands, Castorama saw sales grow in September, whereas the phenomenon usually only increases with the drop in temperatures at the end of October.
Among the popular products, auxiliary heaters, whose sales “
have been multiplied by 3.5 compared to last year
”, according to the group.
All types of heating are concerned by this surge that Castorama explains by a "
desire for independence in the event of power cuts
".
At the same time, wood heating is also popular: still according to the company, sales have been multiplied by three over one year.
The attraction of households for wood is also noted by NielsenIQ: in supermarkets, “products for fire including in particular pellets or wood pellets are experiencing strong disruptions”, noted the panelist this week.
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Other households go further, and embark on work to improve the insulation of their homes.
At Lapeyre, state-of-the-art windows and shutters are particularly in demand.
“
Two criteria are particularly sought after
:
high-level thermal insulation and a supply of light and natural heat
”.
An increase in sales which is not due to the increase in new construction sites, but to the multiplication of renovation works.
Well-being and comfort
Same observation in the clothing department: perhaps influenced by Bruno Le Maire's famous turtleneck, the French have thickened their wardrobes, favoring warm outfits.
Fleece sweatshirts, plaids or heating pads, all these products have seen their sales take off compared to last year, notes Nature & Découverte.
The brand noted a jump in sales of these products of 80% in September and 65% in October.
Here too, the rush is particularly early:
“These are references whose sales climb each year at the end of the year, rather November – December.
This year, the increase started in September.
Our customers have anticipated their purchases in a context of energy sobriety and lower heating temperatures”
, we detail.
The chamber is also concerned: “
Since the government announcements, we have experienced a sharp increase in research on duvets, with an acceleration in sales, 46% greater than that of last year
”, explains one of the co-founders of Tediber. .
No risk of shortage
This trend could settle in the long term, according to the actors... Unless inflation comes to break the dynamic.
Castorama thus explains that it experienced a “
very strong acceleration
” of its sales during the previous weekends.
But the evolution “
will depend on the concrete inflation and the degree of consumer confidence
”, warns one on the side of Lapeyre.
Read alsoShortage and rising prices of heating pellets
On the other hand, despite the anticipated and sudden increase in sales, the companies claim not to fear a shortage.
“
We have anticipated well
,” says the Nature & Découverte brand.
Same opinion at Lapeyre who believes that the risk of "
clean breaks
" is very low, despite "
tensions on the components
".