LEP: why you still have an interest in rushing for it in 2025

With a rate much higher than other savings accounts, the Popular Savings Account (LEP) is an investment of choice. And it will remain so, even after the expected drop in its yield to 3% on February 1.

He still has good days ahead of him, and yet he is less attractive. The Popular Savings Booklet (LEP) will record a much less massive collection in 2024 than in 2023: over the first 11 months of last year, its cumulative collection amounted to 6.26 billion euroswell below the 18.67 billion euros collected over the same period a year earlier. A decline which could be partly explained by the fact that, according to the Banque de France, half of the LEPs reach or exceed the payment ceiling, preventing their holders from investing more. But the LEP is also perhaps less attractive because its remuneration continues to fall: peaking at 6.1% at the start of 2023, its rate is today 4%, and it should be reduced to 3% on February 1 .

But this drop in yield should not encourage eligible savers to no longer use it. First, because the remuneration of the LEP will remain unbeatable compared to other regulated booklets whatever happens. Under a decree of January 27, 2021, the LEP rate must in fact always be at least 0.5% higher than that of the Livret A: the first will therefore always be more interesting. A fortiori, even at a rate of 3%, the LEP will do better than other secure savings solutions. The return on the Sustainable and Solidarity Development Booklet (LDDS) is expected, like that of the Booklet A, at 2.5% on February 1. The housing savings plan (PEL) shows a rate of only 1.75% this year, and the housing savings account (CEL) 2%.

A real return that will remain positive in 2025 with the decline in inflation

As a bonus, placing your savings this year in your Popular Savings Account will still prove to be as interesting given the decline in inflation. Indeed, to get an idea of ​​what a savings solution really brings in, you must deduct the level of inflation from its rate. We thus obtain its “real” return, net of inflation. While the Banque de France anticipates an average price increase of 1.5% over the year 2025, the LEP, even with a rate lowered to 3%, will continue to show a real return – inflation deducted – of 1.5%and this, at least until the next revision of its rate, on August 1st.

Last reason to be interested in this investment: you may be eligible without knowing it! According to the latest figures published by the Banque de France, 11.7 million of French people held a LEP last September. That is 6.9 million more than in 2021, but still much less than the 18 million of eligible French people in total. For the record, in 2024, a single person needed a reference tax income of less than 22,419 euros – or earning less than approximately 1,870 euros per month – to open a LEP. A ceiling which should be revised slightly upwards soon to take into account inflation. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact your bank: they will be able to check your eligibility.