The constrained expenses of the French have increased 36 euros per month in a year and it has not ended

This is a logical consequence of galloping inflation for several months. The fixed costs of the French increased by 3.6% compared to last year, going from 1,059 to 1,095 euros per month. This is what emerges from the fourth wave of the Restricted Expenditure Index from a survey carried out by the CSA Research Institute for the comparator Lesfurets.com.

According to the index, housing continues to represent the first item of restricted spending, largely driven by rent or mortgage, which weighs an average of 675 euros per month compared to 634 euros last year. Then come the electricity and gas bills that are estimated at 97 euros in a context of energy crisis.

The other big item is transport, the cost of which has gone from 232 euros to 245 euros per month due to the rise in prices at the pumps but also to the increase in the price of car insurance.

Also note the growing value given to leisure-related subscriptions, which already exceed 40 euros and even reach 63 euros for young adults.

From 17 to 80% of the average net income between the richest and the poorest

However, all these figures actually hide disparities, in particular according to the income of the people concerned, which make it possible to more or less amortize these limited expenses. According to the barometer, these charges amount to 1,017 euros per month on average for the poorest categories but represent 80% of their average net income when this percentage drops to 17% for the richest despite the fact that they spend more than 1,200 euros per month .

The disparities are also geographical, since Paris remains the region where restricted spending is highest, slightly below 1,200 euros per month, public transport supply only partially mitigating the approximately 800 euros allocated each month to housing by residents of Ile-de-France. But it is also one of the geographical areas where these fixed costs capture the least part of the average budget (32% on average).

This is less the case for Pays de la Loire and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, which complete the podium with 1,165 and 1,183 euros respectively of limited monthly expenses, including 260 euros dedicated exclusively to transport. However, it is precisely in the regions where these charges are lowest that they weigh the most, namely Occitanie and Hauts-de-France (40% of net income for less than 1,060 euros in expenses).

A further increase is expected in 2023

Several factors already make it possible to anticipate a new rise in these constrained expenses next year: mortgage rates that are not prepared to stop their rise, gas and electricity prices that will rise by 15% or again the end of the bonuses that will increase permanently fuel prices well above 2 euros per liter at service stations.

The French, however, have some levers to reduce the weight of these fixed charges as much as possible, although it is difficult to act on the most expensive elements such as rent or even water and electricity bills if consumption is not reduced. Also, bank charges can be greatly reduced by opting for an online bank.