Four years after the Covid interlude, which saw consumption in most developed countries collapse in many sectors then bounce back as a catch-up effect kicked in, a new trend in material consumption seems to be emerging — at least in France. That trend is clearly downward, with levels of French household consumption in mid-2024 falling back to their 2015 level. Is this slow-down here to stay? Does it hint at a move toward a ‘de-consumer’ society? Are the underlying factors economic, ecological, social or something else? What might the consequences be in terms of economic models, public policies, household practices and behaviour?
In this article Cécile Désaunay, who covers these questions for Futuribles, analyses French consumer trends. She identifies the main drivers of the observed slowdown (demography, saturation of material needs, economic constraints and self-restraint), points out the divergences between public views that seem increasingly in favour of responsible consumption — or even de-consumption — and practices not always compatible with those positions, going on to outline the trends that might ensue from this in the medium-to-long term.
The article is downloadable only in French. It is not available in English.
