Mélanie Faure with Maud Descamps 06h19, May 01, 2022

Like every beginning of the month, new government measures or laws come into effect.

Smic, social aid, rent reference index ... While the question of purchasing power is at the center of the concerns of the French, a week after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron, Europe 1 takes stock of what is changing at from May 1.

May 1 marks Labor Day but also a series of changes for the purchasing power of the French.

From the Smic to social aid, via the rent index, Europe 1 takes stock.

Smic revaluation

To cope with inflation, the Smic is revalued from this Sunday.

An increase of 2.65% which represents 34 euros net per month.

For a full-time worker, the monthly minimum wage will be 1,645.58 euros gross.

Net, it will go from 1,269 to 1,302.64 euros.

The gross hourly minimum wage will drop from 10.57 to 10.85 euros.

An increase which Elisabeth Borne rejoiced on Twitter this Saturday: "As of tomorrow, the minimum wage will increase to 1,302.64 euros net/month, an increase of 72€ in 1 year to take inflation into account. In total, with the activity bonus, a full-time SMIC employee receives more than 1,450 euros net / month. The protection of purchasing power remains our priority, "wrote the Minister of Labor.

As of tomorrow, the SMIC increases to €1,302.64 net/month, an increase of €72 in 1 year to take inflation into account.

In total, with the activity bonus, a full-time minimum wage earner earns more than €1,450 net/month.


Protecting purchasing power remains our priority.

— Elisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) April 30, 2022

Salaries in the public service

The minimum salary index in the public service will be raised.

As of May 1, it will amount to 1,649.48 euros gross monthly for full-time against 1,607.31 euros.

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 Inflation: the minimum wage will automatically increase by 2.65% on May 1

Social support

Social aid paid by the National Family Allowance Fund is also increased: it increases by 1.8%.

An increase which therefore applies to family allowances, the RSA, the basic allowance for young children, the additional childcare, the activity bonus as well as the back-to-school allowance which will be paid in the month of August.

Increase in the benchmark rent index

Driven by inflation, the benchmark rent index jumped by 2.48% to reach €133.93 in the first quarter of 2022. Based on the revision of rents for unfurnished or furnished accommodation, this index sets the ceilings for the annual increases in rents.

In concrete terms, if the rental contract so provides, subject to capped rents, landlords may increase the amount of the rent for residential leases whose anniversary date falls between mid-April and mid-July within this limit. 

>> Find Europe morning weekend - 6-8 in podcast and replay here

Decreasing cigarette prices

Between 10 and 20 cents drop in the price of a pack of cigarettes from this Sunday.

A decree published in the Official Journal indicates that several products are concerned, including Lucky Strike Original Brazilian tobacco (from 10.20 euros to 10 euros) or Winfield rouge (10 euros to 9.90 euros).

Note that most cigarette references do not change prices.