Electricity price rise
Electricity bills are set to rise by 9.8% on February 1 for most French households.
Others that have a base tariff (tarif de base) contract will see them rise by 8.6%
These increases will add roughly €127 to a home’s annual energy bill.
Almost all (97%) of households will see bills rise by 8.6% or 9.8%
The remaining 3% of households with the tempo plan, will see bills increase by 10.1%.
It comes as the energy shield (bouclier tarifaire), brought in to protect consumers from electricity price rises in 2021, is gradually phased out this year, and the government looks to pay for the debt incurred during the energy crisis.
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Read more: SEE: Most French electricity bills to rise by 9.8% in February
‘Garden shed’ tax
The ‘garden shed’ tax (taxe d’aménagement), levied on home projects that need building permission (either a permis de construire or déclaration préalable de travaux), has increased by 3.4% in 2024.
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This is lower than previous years (7% in 2022 and 8% in 2023) but is the eighth consecutive year where the tax has risen.
Fixed-rate values for swimming pools, ground-mounted photovoltaic solar panels and some other items remain the same.
Read more: ‘Garden shed’ tax in France: what rises in 2024 and what exemptions?
Supermarket prices
Negotiations between suppliers and distributors for lower supermarket prices were brought forward from March to January, due to a new law that aims to lower prices as soon as possible.
Smaller supermarkets concluded negotiations on January 15, with stabilising, if not lower, prices. Negotiations with larger supermarkets are due to end on January 31.
Read also: ‘My videos help people find the best deals in French discount shops’
Read also: Five things they don’t tell you about supermarkets in France
Decrease in wood heating aid
Government grants for installing or switching to wood-fired heating systems are decreasing by 30% from April 1, with the reform of the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme.
It represents a reduction [in aid] of between €300 and €1,000 in support for eligible households.
The decision has angered industry representatives, who called the decision “incomprehensible”.
The reduction will “jeopardise French pellet factories” as well as an entire industry, “which is currently the largest employer in France, with 440,000 direct and indirect jobs.” said the federation of stove and fireplace installers (FIPC) and the national wood pellet heating association, Propellet.
Between 2020 and 2023, French homeowners flocked to wood-fired heating systems for both economic and environmental reasons. According to consumer association UFC-Que Choisir, the government paid out over €769million in aid for these systems in 2022 alone.
Minister for Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, said the decision was taken to preserve French forests.
Read also: What are the rules on having a chimney fire in France?
Read also: Firewood scam: Three sentenced for €100,000 website fraud in France
Boost for taxpayers over 65
The threshold for a tax deduction for over-65s with moderate incomes and disabled people has increased for 2023 income (to be declared in spring 2024).
The new revenue thresholds for people aged 65 or over on December 31 2023 are €17,200 and €27,670, for a €2,746 and €1,373 deduction on taxable income respectively.
Read more: Good news on tax for (some) over 65s in France
Discreet speed cameras
Up to 700 of the smaller speed cameras installed throughout France in 2023 are now active and being used to issue fines.
Read more: New smaller urban speed radars begin operation around France
Due to their size, the cameras can be hidden behind street signs, although their use must be signalled by a road sign.
Read also: Explainer: Speed cameras, fines and driving licence points in France
Read also: Speed camera caught out as driver escapes fine at 179km/h in France
Drop in property prices?
Property prices are expected to fall in 2024 by as much as 5% according to some estate agents, with others predicting a stagnation or drop of 1%.
Read more: 3, 4, 5%?: what drop in French property prices is expected this year?
No major estate agents are predicting an increase.
This has mainly been explained by reduced purchasing power for buyers.
Read more: France’s property market sees greatest fall in sales for 50 years
Electronics repairs costs increasing
The cost of repairing electronic devices has gone up 10-15%, says consumer protection association CLVC, since the introduction of government aid to encourage getting appliances fixed rather than buying new.
This could be down to the repair scheme itself (introduced in December 2022), to inflation or to the increasing complexity of fixing electronic devices.
LEP savings account rates drop
The interest rate for the LEP (livret d'épargne), a regulated savings account for people with modest incomes) is set to decrease from 6% to 5% on February 1.
The interest rate is based on inflation so it is both bad and good news for account holders.
Minimum wage rise
France’s minimum wage (the ‘Smic’) has increased by 1.13%.
It is now €1,398.69 net and €1,766.92 gross (brut) a month for people working a 35-hour working week.
It means hourly wages are now €9.22 net and €11.65 gross.
30 km/h speed limit
Roads in residential areas without pavements have been limited to a 30km/h speed limit.
Only roads in residential areas that have pavements with pedestrian guardrails and accessibility for people with reduced mobility can have higher speed limits.
Charity tax deductions
The 75% tax deduction for donations made to charity will be maintained until December 2026.
This can be up to €1,000 for each year, meaning a potential €750 deduction on your taxable income on 2024, 2025, and 2026 income taxes.
Threat level decreases
France lowered its terrorism threat alert level to ‘Sécurité renforcée’ (reinforced security) on January 15.
The threat level was increased to ‘Urgence attentat’ (emergency attack) in October 2023 after the death of a teacher who was stabbed in a terrorist attack at a school in Arras.
Read more: France has lowered its terrorism threat alert level
‘Road homicide’
MPs are set to debate the creation of a new offence of ‘road homicide’ (homicide routier) where there is at least one aggravating circumstance (such as alcohol, drugs or driving 50km/h over the speed limit) on January 29.
Currently, drivers who accidentally kill someone in a crash are charged with manslaughter (homicide involontaire), much to the chagrin of victims’ families.
Stricter Nutri-Scores
Changes to the Nutri-Score food ranking system (which rates food for healthiness based on five coloured letters, A-E) are now in effect, with more stringent methods of calculation being employed.
It means most foods are dropping down in score as salt and sugar levels are cracked down on, and more fibre and proteins are required for a higher rating.
Strike reform for air traffic controllers
Air traffic controllers and other air traffic agents whose absence is likely to directly affect the execution of flights now need to individually declare their intention to strike two days in advance of action, at noon at the latest.
Previously, unions had to declare an intention to strike five days beforehand but individuals did not need to, meaning airports and airlines were sometimes unsure of staff numbers until the beginning of the day.
Read more: French MPs move to stop last-minute air traffic controller strikes
50km/h Paris ring road
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo has restated her intention to reduce the speed limit on the Paris ring road from 70km/h to 50km/h.
The transport minister Clément Beaune declared on December 7 that the state will not validate this but the Paris mairie may still be able to enact it due to its “policing power”.
Lyon parking fees
Lyon is to introduce new parking fees before the summer based on drivers’ income as well as the size, weight and environmental impact of their cars in an effort to reduce pollution and increase space.
Read more: Lyon to base parking fees on weight of car and driver income
New home renovation scheme for over 70s
A new scheme to partly finance home renovations for over 70s – to help them remain independent for longer – was introduced in January.
The MaPrimeAdapt combines a number of former schemes regarding similar renovations and places it under the jurisdiction of FranceRénov.
Plans must be supervised by a designated project manager, who will help you throughout the process, and up to 70% of the costs can be reimbursed.
Read more: How does France’s new home renovation scheme for the over-70s work?
Spring train tickets on sale
Train tickets for the ‘spring’ travel season went on sale on January 24, covering the dates of March 24 to May 22.
The tickets concern all high-speed trains in France, and some low-cost high-speed (Ouigo) and international services have tickets available up to six months from now.
Five bank holidays fall during these dates, with the SNCF expecting tickets to sell out around these dates quickly, with many workers looking to take extended weekend holidays in May.
Read more: Train tickets for spring trips in France go on sale
