The French have never saved so much, and it is worry that explains it. According to the fourteenth wave of the Odoxa-Groupama barometer for Capital and BFM, 80% of them put money aside each month, a record up eight points since April. Far from being a sign of trustthis reflex mainly reflects a fear of the future.
There distrust dominated. On average, 85% of French people say they are more worried than confident about the economy, taxes or their ability to borrow. And 78% of savers doubt the yield of their own savings. The war in the Middle East has reinforced this feeling, with 34% of savers having already changed their habits because of the conflict, almost always for greater security. For Gaël Sliman, president of Odoxa, the observation hardly suffers from nuance. “It is precisely because they are afraid that the French save, and that they save particularly sterile savings. »
Savings boosted by worry
The paradox is only apparent. If the French save so much, it is because they fear the future. 92% judge that the economic situation of the country will deteriorate, 85% expect a taxation heavier, three-quarters worry about their ability to borrow. In this context, save becomes a defensive gesture more than a project. “When we ask them why they save, they answer that things are bad, and that they will be even worse tomorrow”reports Gaël Sliman.
The problem lies in where these savings go. Worried, the French favor the safest supports, at the price of yield. Among those who changed their investments because of the war, 71% did so for secure more, compared to 26% to aim for better performance. Money accumulates, but it sleeps.
This caution calls for support. Nearly six out of ten savers want to be better recommended. And if 12% of French people already useartificial intelligence for their investmentstrust goes first to specialists. “Three-quarters of French people tell us they have the most confidence in savings professionals”underlines the president of Odoxa. The AI is installed, without reassuring.
How to wake up sleeping savings
The first reflex to review concerns the booklet A. Its rate has fallen to 1.5% since February 2026, and nearly 60% of French people have already deserted it or are preparing to do so. The increase expected in August, of around 0.3 points, will change nothing for six out of ten of them. Useful as a savings precaution, available And tax-exemptit does not make it possible to constitute a heritage.
To aim a little higher without great risk, thelife insurance remains the first track. Her fund in eurosguaranteed, returned on average 2.6% in 2025 according to France Assureurs, i.e. more than the Livret A once inflation is taken into account. Savers ready to accept a little risk over a long horizon can diversify a portion towards units of accountmore remunerative over time, or towards bond fundsmore cautious than stocks.
There remains the tax lever. 20% of French people make payments to a retirement savings planto prepare for their retirement and reduce their tax. The challenge is therefore not to save less, but to avoidimmobilize all of his savings in funds that earn nothing. In a country where precautionary savings are accumulating, the real question is how to finally do so to work.
Article for information purposes. It does not constitute investment advice. Units of account carry a risk of capital loss.
Source: Odoxa-Groupama savings and investments barometer for Capital and BFM, 14th wave.
