Nearly 4 in 10 French people (39%) plan to shop the summer sales in 2026 — a steady share for the third year running. But this year, it's younger shoppers leading the charge: almost two-thirds of under-35s say they'll take advantage of the discounts.
Average spending is set to jump to €357, that's €124 more than last year. It's a clear sign that people are feeling more confident about hunting for a good deal, with over half of shoppers planning to spend €200 or more.
89% of shoppers will stick with retailers they already know and love — still a very high number. That said, more wealthy households are starting to use the sales as a chance to try brands they'd normally see as out of reach.
In-store shopping is making a comeback (48%), especially among younger shoppers, while online stays steady at 23%. Together, these numbers point to something bigger: the need for unified commerce, where every channel works together seamlessly.
Mollie, one of Europe's fastest-growing payment partners, today reveals the third edition of its annual study "French shoppers and the sales", carried out by OpinionWay. For the third year running, nearly 4 in 10 French people (39%) say they want to shop the sales — proof that this is still a key moment in how people shop. But 2026 brings something new: shoppers plan to spend a lot more this year, a sign of growing optimism even as the economy stays uncertain.