BAROMETER. In August 2026, fuel prices jumped by nearly 10%, but road transport prices stagnated, weakening the cash flow of companies in the sector.
August 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded globally, and France was not spared. The repeated heat waves (83 days out of 92 between June 1 and August 31), the resulting drought (80% of the territory under water restrictions) and the massive fires have traumatised local populations and disrupted the economy.
Certainly, the composite indicator of the business climate, calculated by INSEE from the responses of business leaders in the main commercial sectors, improved in August: at 99, it gained one point compared to July and recorded a third consecutive month of increase, mainly thanks to favourable production prospects in industry and an improvement in the group consisting of retail trade and the trade and repair of motor vehicles.
But once again, inflation has invited itself into the homes of the French, driven by the war in the Middle East. According to INSEE, consumer prices increased by 2.4% in August year-on-year, mainly due to soaring energy prices (+16.7%), and in particular petroleum products. Fresh produce also shows a significant increase of 5.8%. The increase in the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) reached 2.7%, confirming inflationary pressure that weighs on purchasing power.
Road transport on the front...
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