The French spared 18.8% of their income in the 1st quarter of 2025, a record since 1979, according to INSEE

On average, French households spared 18.8% of their income in the first quarter of 2025, according to the INSEE conjuncture note Posted Wednesday. A figure never reached since 1979, outside COVID. These economies are the consequences of the international context and the political and budgetary climate in France. INSEE also points to these figures the role of retiree consumption: in 2024, their income “have increased sharply but their consumption has not followed”.

In detail, for the 1st quarter of 2025, four out of ten households say they have put money aside. Seven out of ten claim that they have limited their consumption with the consequence, the increase in their savings. After questioning 2,000 savers, INSEE says it is a behavior “To protect yourself in the event of a hard blow”. Just over a third of those questioned drop their consumption to complete the end of the month. INSEE also explains that a in five French savings in order to buy accommodation and one in ten to transmit to its children or help their loved ones.

Regarding retirees, INSEE indicates that two thirds of the increase in the savings rate in 2024 comes from their prudence. The Institute has studied banking data from Postal Bank customers. His observation: the oldest experienced a “Strong increase in their income (…) carried by the revaluations of retirement pensions. In parallel, the consumption of retirees did not react, which resulted in a clear increase in their savings, especially among the most modest.”