6.1%. This is the rise in consumer prices over one year, in July 2022. And behind the figures, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, few are those who have not changed their habits to cope with inflation. Especially since few are satisfied with the government measures, supposed to improve the purchasing power of the French.
“I really see the difference in prices on seasonal products,” says Assiya, describing an increase in prices on his favorite summer vegetables ranging from one to two euros per kilo. “I don’t splurge, but a big chunk of my paycheck still goes into my errands. »
The saleswoman in the ready-to-wear store is well aware of the discounts offered by certain brands, but admits not having looked for good deals. “I see that prices are rising very quickly in some supermarkets, but I’m already running out of time… It’s difficult to identify the store where I’ll pay the least,” she explains.
Reacting to the aid voted in the National Assembly, the young woman barely allows herself frustration. “It’s better than nothing, I’m not going to spit on these measures. But it is clear that it is not enough, especially to live in Paris. »
“Purchasing power measures are zero”
Rosaline, for her part, got used to shopping at Lidl, stressing that she is always careful about what she buys. “Even there, prices are rising. Anyway, I have no choice, I have to eat well! she exclaims.
“Frankly, the measures on purchasing power are zero,” loose Rosaline, particularly disappointed by the aid introduced vis-à-vis the price of fuel. The adviser at Free drives almost daily, and has seen her gasoline budget increase continuously since the beginning of the year. “What has been proposed seems insufficient to me. It would have been necessary to block the price of fuel, quite simply, ”she assures.
Cécile adapts to rising prices by changing her habits. “I go less and less to the supermarket and more and more to the market. It’s the only way to pay fair prices”, sighs the artist-painter who does not feel “not concerned” by the measures voted in the National Assembly. “I find that the government has been very vague in the way it provides aid,” regrets the fifty-year-old.
As for the “Macron bonus”, “it will only be given at the goodwill of business leaders”. “It pisses me off that the deputies have chosen not to increase the minimum wage. They are in the wrong fight: increasing purchasing power first of all involves increasing salaries, ”judges Cécile.
Jamel himself has chosen to reduce the use of his car as much as possible. And, with the approach of summer, the retail manager hesitated for a long time. “When I saw the prices, I didn’t even want to leave. But I couldn’t leave the little one without a vacation, ”he laments. The father of the family has therefore put money aside since the beginning of the year to join his family in Tunisia in August. To complete his holiday budget of 2000 euros, he still had to borrow money from a friend. “It will not be a luxury vacation. It’s just the price of the plane. Honestly, if I didn’t have my son, I wouldn’t even have left. »