Inflation: faced with rising prices, is the government's response sufficient?

Thibaud Hue, edited by Juline Garnier 2:55 p.m., May 8, 2022, modified at 2:58 p.m., May 8, 2022

DECRYPTION

Prices are rising, and that's just the beginning.

Inflation is felt by millions of French people at the same time doing their shopping.

The kilo of tomatoes has taken more than one euro in two years.

The price of beef tenderloin, flour and coffee have also risen.

And the war in Ukraine has above all caused the energy bill to soar.

Since 2019, diesel has increased by 38%, gas cylinders by 8.6%.

And the overall champion is fuel oil.

The 1,000 liters cost 950 euros two years ago.

This year, it's 1,500 euros.

So concern rises in the minds of consumers.

The French awaiting government measures

"Everyone is worried, that's for sure. Now that we have passed almost all of the electoral deadlines, we are waiting for the legislative elections. But we will have to take measures at the start of the school year and be in control of the raw materials. Because that we can clearly see that with the problems of confinement in China, we are also starting to have problems importing raw materials", explains a woman interviewed by Europe 1. 

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"We would like wages to follow because there is a gap. If wages are not increased and prices rise, it is in our wallet that it ends up," says another consumer.

"The price always goes up in steps, but there is never a level down. Unfortunately, the price of gasoline will never return to the price where we knew it six or seven months ago and where it was 1 .40 to 1.50 euros per litre. And then maybe the government should also reduce taxes a little", adds a man.

Many aids already in place

Measures have already been taken: tariff shield, discount on fuel, inflation bonuses.

But that's not enough, according to the JDD.

At the Élysée, we are already working to find solutions.

Emmanuel Macron has already promised to index pensions to inflation this summer, but also the RSA, the activity bonus and family and disability allowances.

For the price at the pump, the discount of 15 to 18 cents on the liter, which stops at the end of July, will be extended and the food check should also soon see the light of day.

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Some consumers supplement these aids with good plans.

For example, the anti-crise.fr site lists all current promotions, especially for food and household products.

And according to the co-founder of the site, Laurent Enselme, hunting for promotions can be very interesting, especially when prices go up.

Hunting for promotions, a solution to reduce the price of your basket?

"By spending an hour a week, we consult the prospectuses, we look at the promotions and we anticipate our purchases. If, for example, the following week, there is a nice promotion of 70 to 80% discount on softener and you know that in two or three weeks you will need fabric softener, that's when you have to take advantage of it", advises the expert of the promotions.

"It is true that a family, a couple with two children, can easily hope to obtain four to five hundred euros of monthly discount. The purchasing power, in my opinion, is decreasing more and more and it is all the more more useful to look for solutions to manage to reduce the expenses", he adds.

In one year, with his wife, Laurent Anselme has reduced his annual shopping budget by 65%.

5,000 euros in savings, only through promotions.