With the reopening of shops, consumption is on the rise again.
In the United States, the recovery has also (and logically) led to inflation, as the industry is still held back by shortages and rising commodity prices.
Will a price increase also be observed in France?
Europe 1 interviewed Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, president of the Circle of economists.
ANALYSIS
With the lifting of confinement, the curfew pushed back to 9 p.m. and the opening of "non-essential" stores, consumption is on the rise again.
Will this recovery be accompanied by inflation?
Some have already noticed the consequences on their wallet.
"I notice that my full tank costs me more than before", "we anticipate the increase in prices especially for going on vacation", "a lot of people have already seen their purchasing power decrease. I think that it is. is unfortunately always the same who will suffer, "said Parisians at the microphone of Europe 1.
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Rising demand and disrupted supply
This price increase has already hit the United States, with + 4.2% last month, and made the financial markets react, because it is the law of supply and demand.
In fact, Americans are starting to consume again, but in the face of it, the industry is hampered by several problems: the shortage of containers for maritime transport, or of semiconductors, electronic components that are now found in all cars.
Added to this is the rise in the price of raw materials such as petroleum, copper and even timber.
Rising demand and disrupted supply automatically drive up prices.
"Maybe a rise in inflation from 2.5 to 3%"
In France, the rise in inflation is limited for the moment to 1.6%. What has increased the most are the prices of gasoline and new cars. But we are at the very beginning of the recovery. So is there a risk that the prices will take off afterwards? "There will perhaps be a rise in inflation from 2.5 to 3%, which is not the end of the world. In France, for years, we have experienced inflation of 11 to 12%. So there, are we whining because we are at 1 or 2%? Inflation, it is not a bad in itself. The whole point is that it is limited and that it allows in reality a natural movement in the evolution of prices ", wanted to reassure Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, president of the Circle of economists, at the microphone of Europe 1. A surge in prices in the coming weeks will notis not to be ruled out, however, it should therefore naturally regulate itself thereafter.