The month of February 2024 is no exception to tradition.
Changes are taking place this Thursday, with good and bad news for households.
Le Figaro
takes an overview of the main measures.
Electricity prices are soaring
From February 1, electricity bills will cost more for households and businesses with the gradual end of the price shield.
The government has decided to increase 9.8% on peak and off-peak rates, and 8.6% on basic rates.
Bad news which
“concerns nearly 20 million households subscribing to electricity, including 10.6 million at the basic rate”
according to Bruno Le Maire.
Note regarding gas prices, the price of the kilowatt hour (kWh) continues to decline for the second consecutive month.
Help for savers
The Minister of the Economy recently decided, in agreement with the Banque de France, to help savers.
While the remuneration of the Livret d'Epargne Populaire should have increased from 6% to 4.4%, the government decided to set it halfway, i.e. at 5%.
A rate which remains
“exceptional on the market”,
details Bruno Le Maire.
As for Livret A, the most popular investment, it will maintain a rate of 3%, announced the tenant of Bercy, until 2025.
Read alsoSavings: the LEP rate falls, but remains attractive
Simplified inheritance tax
It is sometimes difficult for some heirs to pay inheritance tax upon the death of their loved one.
The executive facilitates the procedures, as announced at the end of December in the Official Journal.
The conditions for applying for credits will thus be made easier from next month in order to avoid refusals of inheritance.
Concretely, the processing of the tax credit request is reduced from four to two months.
The heir will now have four months to send supporting documents from the approval of the public accountant.
Finally, additional guarantees of inheritance rights may be requested in the following two months, i.e. one month more than today.
The social net amount becomes the reference
Since January the net social amount has been displayed on all pay slips.
Over the course of the year, it will appear in other benefit statements.
From February 1, recipients of the Activity Bonus and the RSA will have to include this net social amount in their declarations to benefit from the Activity Bonus and the RSA.
Read alsoAAH, APL, RSA, Family allowances: the 2024 calendar of CAF payments is available
Toll rates increase
After an average increase of 4.75% in prices observed in 2023, it will cost motorists even more to use the motorways.
From February 1, prices will increase by 3% at the barrier on average.
Although Vinci indicates that this increase will not exceed 2.79% on its network, the increase will vary depending on the route taken.
The Mont-Blanc tunnel and the Millau viaduct, for example, will see their prices rise by up to 5%.
The Vinci Autoroutes group justifies this increase by inflation.
The price of tobacco continues to soar
In ten years, the price of tobacco has increased by more than 70%, it will continue to rise in February.
Several cigarette references are affected.
Smokers of Vogue L'Originale, Dunhill, Camel, Lucky Strike or even Winston will have to pay a few cents more at the tobacconist.
Certain cigars and packets of rolling tobacco will also undergo this increase as indicated on the Customs website.
This increase desired by the executive aims to pass on the increase in inflation to tobacco.
Also read: Brewpubs, these new beer bars that are a hit in France
First payment of the internship allowance
After a 7% increase in hourly compensation for company interns last month, good news awaits high school students.
Implemented at the start of the 2023 school year, the internship allowance aims to promote the teaching of high school students in professional sectors.
The first payment will take place in a few days for the period worked from September to December 2023. The maximum amount allocated will differ depending on the year of schooling: €50 per week for high school students enrolled in the first year of CAP and the second year of the professional baccalaureate , €75 per week for high school students enrolled in the second year of CAP and first year of the professional baccalaureate, €100 per week for high school students enrolled in the final year of the professional baccalaureate.
Better protection of Internet users
From February 17, the obligations provided for by the Digital Services Act will come into force in France.
It will make it possible to offer consumers and online users better protection on the internet by forcing digital players to prohibit the dissemination of illicit, harmful content or illegal products.
Also read Moderation, recommendations, advertising... What the Digital Services Act changes for Internet users
More money for retirees and VTCs
For retirees, February will mark the first payment of their enhanced pension.
Applied to the January 2024 pension, seniors will benefit from an increase of around 5.3% when paid on February 9, 2024.
For VTC drivers, their minimum salary will increase from 7.65 to 9 euros per trip.
For passengers, this change will have the effect of increasing the minimum fare of the journey, now count 10.60 euros net.