Nearly Half of French Households Cut Hygiene Spending Due to Financial Strain

A recent survey highlights the growing prevalence of hygiene precarity, with 47% of households reducing essential purchases as inflation and economic hardship persist.

The 2025 'Hygiène et précarité en France' barometer reveals that 47% of French households reduced spending on hygiene products in 2024, up from 34% in 2023.
Coping strategies include rationing toilet paper, skipping toothpaste, and delaying showers, raising concerns about health risks such as infections and hygiene-related illnesses.
Single-parent families are disproportionately affected, with 35% reporting having to choose between hygiene products and food.
The Descrozaille law, enacted in March 2024, limits discount promotions on hygiene products to 34%, aiming to stabilize prices but leaving many still unable to afford essentials.
Associations like Dons Solidaires have increased distributions of hygiene products, as nearly 7% of respondents rely on aid for basic items.