Maud Descamps 06:31, May 05, 2022
According to an initial estimate made on 29th April by Insee, inflation continued to accelerate in April in France to reach 4.8% over one year.
To compensate for the increase in food products, the French decide to turn to the lower prices or to shop in several stores, to benefit from the most attractive prices.
For the past few weeks, the use of vouchers or pots on loyalty cards has been more frequent at checkout.
This is observed by several large retailers contacted by Europe 1. Customers are also turning more to promotional products.
Emily Mayer is a specialist in consumer products at the IRI institute: "On the promotion, we have the feeling that it is starting to climb a little, but I would say that the clearest thing that we see is that the French are moving towards lower price. In the first quarter of 2022, sales of consumer products fell by 1.8%. At the same time, turnover of first price brands increased by 8%."
>> Find Europe Matin in replay and podcast here
The hunt for small yellow coins at the bottom of the wallet
Consumers looking for the slightest savings who sometimes go through the hunt for small yellow coins at the bottom of the wallet to complete the shopping budget.
Patrick de Baecque is the general manager of Coinstar France, machines that transform yellow coins into vouchers in hypermarkets.
>> READ ALSO -
Consumption: these everyday products particularly affected by inflation
"We have seen an increase in the sums counted by our terminals by 18% and an increase in the number of printed vouchers by 20%", he explains at the microphone of Europe 1. Some consumers do not hesitate also to travel to several brands to find the best prices.