The new edition of the BPCE Digital & Payments Barometer offers a unique X-ray of consumption and payments by the French over the past two years, which have been severely impacted by the health crisis.
The analysis is based on the anonymized transactions of approximately 20 million bank cards issued by the Banque Populaire banks and the Caisses d’Epargne.
It thus offers the most representative statistical basis for the development of payment methods and the buying behavior of the French.
Another record year for e-commerce in France
Total online spending increased by 20% in 2021 (after +14% in 2020).
According to the BPCE Digital & Payments Barometer, the year is 2021 another record year for e-commerce. This is a very clear trend that runs through all areas of activity.
A third of consumption among those under 35 now takes place online.
The proportion of online expenditure is 85 to 95% when travelling and airline tickets; 75% for educational services and 98% for dating.
All industries are going digital
Pre-crisis physical-only retail industries have started to migrate to e-commerce.
Otherwise, Every third clothing purchase is now made online ; 20% of restaurant spend, compared to just 3% two years ago. An identical number for sports equipment.
In the field of luxury and watches and jewelry, online sales have increased from 10% in 2019 to 16% today.
Regardless of the industry, selling online has become essential.
Note that too The average shopping basket in e-commerce is now half that of in-storeat 57 euros versus 38 euros.
The disappearing cash
The data of this barometer illustrate increasing digitization, which is also reflected in all payments.
Cash continues to decline, due to both the rise of distance selling and the introduction of contactless paymentswhose amounts have practically tripled in two years.
The year 2022 will provide an opportunity to confirm these trends.
The opposite effects of the health crisis
There are two areas of inequality. First, the health crisis has produced “winners” and “losers.”
Then, for certain sectors, the crisis was just an accident, a one-off shock, positive or negative, followed by a quick return to normality.
Conversely, for others, the crisis marked a trend of acceleration or deep decline, the effects of which continue to this day.
So we can distinguish four groups :
The “point losers”:
The sectors of Prêt-à-Porter, hairdressing salons, sports equipment or even cateringhave faced total or partial closure during the health crisis.
The French very quickly returned to these sectors once restrictions were lifted because they remain very attached to these companies. Overall, the development remains favourable.
The “One Time Winners”:
Conversely, some sectors were temporarily boosted by the health crisis before returning to previous levels.
The most striking example is that of Grocery Retail.
French food spending increased by 28% between 2019 and 2020, rising again to +4% in 2021 compared to 2019.
Sectors still in decline:
It is the case Activities related to mobility and tourismsuch as airlines, transport or railway companies and even more so travel agencies.
These data bear witness to profound changes in the mobility habits of the French.
growth industries:
For other sectors, the health crisis has been a real growth accelerator.
The online entertainment industry has explodedwhether streaming, video games, betting and gambling platforms.
Figures back this up, with streaming site spend increasing by 37% between 2019 and 2021.
Even more surprising is the sector of Pet shops and veterinary care up 67% in two years.
DIY and decoration (+22%) and garden center (+31%) also show strong growth.
Trends suggesting a reorientation of French consumers towards the home…
