March 2026 Mobility & Consumption Minute: diesel passes €2 a litre
Every month, the Mobility Minute and the Consumption Minute explore two major trends transforming consumer behaviour in France and across Europe.
Presented by Flavien Neuvy, economist and Director of the Cetelem Observatory, these two analyses provide a one-minute overview of the developments shaping the mobility and consumer markets.
This March 2026 edition of the Mobility & Consumption Minute highlights two key trends:
- Soaring oil prices weigh directly on household mobility budgets
- The gardening market confirms its weight in home-related spending
The Mobility Minute of March 2026
Oil prices: the impacts on mobility and purchasing power
Find the full analysis in the Mobility Minute below:
In three months, the price of a barrel has risen by more than 50%. The cause: tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil passes. At the pump, the effect is immediate diesel is now above €2 per litre.
Key figures
– barrel price up more than 50% in three months
– nearly 20% of the world’s oil transits the Strait of Hormuz
– diesel crosses the €2 per litre mark
– low-income and rural households are the most exposed
➜ « Read the full analysis »
Discover the latest Auto 2026 study by the Cetelem Observatory
With this new 2026 edition, we observe a worrying situation, we identify five levers that could create a healthy rebound in the automotive sector. An obligation, as the economic and social stakes are so high.
Find out about the latest Mobility study.
The Consumption Minute of March 2026
Gardening in France: a €7.7 billion market revived by spring
Find the full analysis in the Minute Conso below:
As the warmer months return, gardening reclaims a central place in household spending. In France, 58% of people have a garden at their main or second home, in a market worth €7.7 billion. One striking detail: despite the digitalisation of retail, e-commerce captures only 7% of it.
Key figures
– €7.7 billion for the gardening market
– 58% of French people have a garden
– 42% of sales through specialist garden superstores, 35% through DIY chains
– only 7% of the market transacted online
The home does not stop at the garden. The pet market continues to grow and is now worth €16.6 billion — more than double gardening — confirming that living environment and domestic wellbeing remain protected spending categories.
➜ « Read the full analysis »
Find the new 2026 Consumer Study from the Cetelem Observatory
As early as 2016, we were interested in seniors with a study entitled “Towards the golden age of the silver economy?”. At the time, we were far from suspecting that the decline in the birth rate would accelerate to such an extent and that the question of demographic ageing would be so acute 10 years later.
Find out about the latest Consumption study.
FAQ – Mobility and consumer markets, April 2026
- How much have oil prices risen in 2026?
The price of a barrel has risen by more than 50% in three months, against a backdrop of tension around the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil passes. - What is the price of diesel in France?
Diesel is now above €2 per litre in France. - Which households are most exposed to rising fuel prices?
Low-income households and those living in rural or peri-urban areas, which depend most on the private car for daily journeys, according to the Observatoire Cetelem de BNP Paribas Personal Finance. - How big is the gardening market in France?
The gardening market is worth €7.7 billion in France, and only 7% of it is transacted online. - What share of French people have a garden?
58% of French people have a garden at their main or second home. - How big is the pet market in France? The pet market is worth €16.6 billion in France, more than double the gardening market.
- Where can I find the detailed analyses?
Both full analyses are published on the Observatoire Cetelem website, in the Automotive and Consumption sections.
