As the cost of living strains household budgets and emerges as a central issue in the 2027 presidential campaign, Ifop, in partnership with Le Figaro, conducted a survey for Vae Solis to gauge how the French view their purchasing power. The survey reveals a widely shared sense of unease: a perceived decline in purchasing power, restrictions affecting even basic necessities, and political expectations marked by deep social divides.
Purchasing power plays a major role in the run-up to the presidential election: 90% of voters say it will be important in determining their vote, with 49% considering it “very important.” However, this concern resonates with different voter groups to varying degrees. It is “very important” for 61% of both LFI and RN supporters, compared to 41% of LR supporters, 35% of PS supporters, and 32% of Renaissance supporters. These differences reflect, in particular, the strong support that LFI and the RN enjoy among working-class groups, where financial struggles at the end of the month are accompanied by a sense of social decline.
However, this sense of decline extends beyond these two political camps. 67% of French people believe their purchasing power has decreased over the past twelve months, with 35% saying it has decreased “significantly.” This proportion rises to 75% among those in the lower-income bracket and the lower middle class, but also applies to 53% of those in the affluent bracket. Even among Renaissance supporters, 57% report a decline in their purchasing power. A shared concern is thus emerging, though it does not reflect the same material hardships across the board.
This perception is accompanied by persistent pessimism: 85% of French people view inflation as structural and long-lasting, while 92% believe that wages do not adequately cover the cost of living—60% of whom are absolutely convinced of this.
Financial constraints are leading to tangible sacrifices. Over the past twelve months, 39% of French people have often bought cheaper or lower-quality food products, 37% have often foregone taking a vacation, and 36% have often turned down the heat or reduced their energy consumption. These restrictions are not limited to leisure activities: 20% have often foregone or postponed medical or dental care, and 12% have often skipped a meal for financial reasons.
These difficulties are particularly prevalent among LFI and RN supporters. Frequently foregoing or postponing medical care affects 29% of LFI supporters and 26% of RN supporters, compared to 6% among Renaissance supporters. The differences are even more pronounced when it comes to skipping meals due to lack of money: 44% of LFI supporters, 35% of RN supporters, and 4% of Renaissance supporters report having done so often or occasionally over the course of the year. Purchasing power is thus not merely a topic of political debate: it directly shapes everyday trade-offs, extending even to the ability to feed oneself and seek medical care.
Given these expectations, Marine Le Pen enjoys the highest level of credibility among those surveyed: 41% of French people believe she is capable of improving their purchasing power if she were to win the presidential election, ahead of Édouard Philippe at 29%, Bruno Retailleau and Gabriel Attal at 26%, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon at 23%. This credibility extends beyond her own camp, as 54% of LR supporters believe she has this ability, even though they are more convinced by Bruno Retailleau (74%) and Édouard Philippe (56%). On the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon enjoys strong support among LFI supporters, at 90%, but convinces only 30% of PS supporters. A widely shared economic concern therefore does not translate into uniform political trust. These results pertain to the perceived ability to improve purchasing power, not to voting intentions.
