The end of 2024 is imminent and a new year is dawning. With it came some changes for the French. Between falling electricity prices, new retirement calculations and revision of the home savings plan, what can we expect in the weeks to come?
1. Rising gas prices…
While the benchmark price of gas had already increased significantly, it will rise again from January 1, 2025. This Wednesday it therefore increases to 0.146 euros including tax per kilowatt hour for hot water and cooking, and from 0.112 euros to 0.118 euros including tax/kWh for heating..
The Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), however, notes that it is up to each supplier to pass on this increase or not. In other words, consumers will be able to encourage competition between providers.
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2.… but drop in electricity prices
In February, electricity prices will fall significantlyafter having also increased significantly during the year 2024. The regulated electricity tariff (TRV) will fall by 14%, thanks to the drop in prices on international markets and the increase in production on the part of 'EDF.
Note that the price shield put in place following the Covid-19 crisis will also end. But the drop in prices largely offsets this return of the electricity tax to its pre-crisis level.
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3. Revaluation of basic retirement pensions
This is another key measure at the start of the year: basic retirement pensions are increased by 2.2% on January 1, in order to follow the evolution of inflation. This is the established rule regarding retirement pensions, which are indexed to consumer prices.
As a reminder, the Barnier government had considered a pause in this development in order to mitigate the Social Security deficit, but the measure was not accepted.
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4. Registration of RSA beneficiaries with France Travail
Another major change concerning beneficiaries of active solidarity income (RSA): they will depend on a new organization. Registration with France Travail now becomes compulsory and automaticwith employment contract and social and professional integration objectives.
This means 1.2 million people will be automatically registered as job seekers. In this context, they will have 15 to 20 hours of activities per week (interviews, training, internships, etc.).
5. New rules for unemployment insurance
Last Friday, the new Prime Minister François Bayrou validated the new unemployment insurance rules. Validated on January 1, they will however not come into force until next March.
The age limits governing certain provisions have been shifted by 2 years. You will therefore now have to be 55 years old (instead of 53 years old) for the periods of work taken into account when determining unemployment benefit to be sought in the last 36 months preceding the end of the employment contract. Maximum compensation periods have also been updated in some cases.
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6. Prohibition on rental of G-rated accommodation
The Climate and Resilience Law of 2021 provided for a ban on the rental of G-rated housing from January 1, 2025. From now on, owners of housing of this type will no longer be able to offer them to tenants. It should be noted that these provisions will extend to housing classified F from 2028, then housing classified E from 2034. The housing in question is now considered indecent.
7. Reduction in the housing savings plan (PEL) rate
Bad news for future savers: the interest rates on housing savings plans (PEL) opened from January 1 will be lowered by half a point. They were increased to 2.25% in 2024 and they now rise to 1.5%.
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8. Increase in prices of tobacco, letters and parcels, transport
Several price increases affecting the daily lives of the French should also be noted from January 1st. The price of tobacco will increase, which will have repercussions an increase of up to 1 euro more per pack of cigarettes.
This is also the case for letters and parcels. La Poste will increase its prices by 6.8% on average. A green letter will cost you 1.39 euros (compared to 1.29 euros previously). However, the price of a red letter will not change.
Another major change: Île-de-France is implementing a single price with a new ticket at 2.50 euros per trip (metro, RER and transilien). There will therefore no longer be a T+ ticket or an origin-destination ticket.
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