the Minister of Commerce welcomes an increase in consumption at Christmas

The French consumed on average 15 to 20% more this year compared to 2024 thanks in particular to a drop in the prices of certain products according to Serge Papin, Minister of SMEs and purchasing power.

The Christmas meal has barely been digested when you may already be thinking about the one on the 31st, New Year’s Eve. But what will be on the table? Maybe more things than in 2024. Serge Papin, Minister of SMEs (small and medium-sized businesses) and purchasing power, gave an interview on Sunday, December 28 in the columns of our colleagues at Parisian. The minister draws a rather positive initial assessment of consumption during the Christmas holidays.

However, this was far from being won in this period of political and budgetary instability which often tends to weigh down household consumption. “The French have opened their hearts and their wallets”affirms Serge Papin, who describes rather good figures compared to previous years.

Indeed, the minister points to a “15 to 20% increase in consumption compared to 2024” in certain major retail brands. For the day of Wednesday December 24 alone, French consumption increased by 10% year-on-year. This is particularly seen, according to the minister, in the food sector, the shelves of supermarkets where fish and festive food products were purchased in larger quantities.

This is the consequence, according to him, of an overall drop in the prices of some of these products. Classics more affordable than in 2024. “Given the drop in prices and controlled inflation, gourmet products are more affordable this year”completes the former boss of Système U. Compared to 2024, the cost of the average basket for Christmas (155 euros in 2025) has decreased slightly compared to 2024 with 155 euros in 2025, and this, for the second year in a row.

On the other hand, festive products such as lobster or slightly more expensive capon have had more difficulty finding buyers this year. The minister also assures that he wants to be firmer on payment delays by supporting a bill to “uncapping sanctions”. And do not hesitate to remind that“we have 20,000 SMEs in financial difficulties in court each year because they were not paid on time”.

He once again underlines his desire to facilitate the use of profit-sharing for employees of VSE-SMEs, a system which allows the payment of a bonus without paying social security contributions and which Serge Papin would also like not to give rise to the payment of tax. An employee can, for the moment, request immediate payment of the bonus, or invest it in an employee savings plan, the most popular option.