The 2026 budget bill, still being adopted, ratifies a decision with far-reaching consequences for consumer information in France: the liquidation of the National Consumer Institute, the public institution behind the magazine 60 million consumers. The integration of this measure into the budget text marks a turning point for this historical player in independent expertise on everyday products and services.
Created in 1966 and becoming a public industrial and commercial establishment in 1990, the INC has played a central role for decades in producing surveys, comparative tests, research, and consumer education initiatives. It also provides technical support to consumer protection associations, making it a key player in the landscape of household economic protection.
An attack on consumer information
The confirmation of the liquidation in the budget has provoked a strong reaction from the unions. The CFDT denounces "An unprecedented attack on consumer information and protection"According to the union, INC employees noted "with dismay" the continuation of the measure in the component " expenses " of the budget, on which Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has invoked the government's responsibility via article 49.3.
To prevent this elimination, elected officials had spoken out against the measure in committee, and a petition opposing the disappearance of the INC gathered “120.000 citizens”According to the organizations involved, the issue thus goes beyond the purely budgetary framework and takes on a symbolic dimension concerning the independence of economic information.
60 jobs threatened and public services eliminated
The planned closure of the INC would result in the dismissal of approximately 60 employees. Beyond the social impact, the union emphasizes the impending end of missions considered fundamental: applied consumer research, educational initiatives, public information, and support for consumer associations. These activities, currently carried out within a public framework, may not be fully continued.
Our magazine 60 million consumersThe INC's flagship publication is at the heart of concerns. In December, around a hundred journalists, elected officials, and scientists denounced its "execution" in an opinion piece, emphasizing the value and credibility of this title in the French media landscape.
The possibility of a private takeover of the magazine
The government's position is based on a reorganization of the model. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (Bercy) stated that "Private actors will be much better able to give new impetus to this magazine, which is well-known and respected by the French.", while assuring that he wanted the transition to take place "in the best possible conditions"The draft budget does indeed provide for the possibility of selling the press business to a private entity.
This approach is based on the institution's perceived precarious financial situation. The authorities cite a gradual deterioration of the accounts, which has led them to consider liquidation as a structural solution rather than a simple restructuring.
Financial figures at the heart of the debate
The government estimates the cost of liquidating the INC at €8 million. The SNME CFDT union, however, puts the figure at €11 million. According to Lionel Maugain, SNME CFDT representative at the INC, the institute's deficit for 2024 reached €719.000 on a turnover of €11,6 million. The union representative nevertheless believes that the 2025 fiscal year should break even.
Regarding the magazine, available data indicates that it had approximately 80.000 subscribers in 2024, with 20.000 to 30.000 copies sold each month at newsstands. Despite this loyal readership, these volumes are considered insufficient to compensate for the structural difficulties of the business model.
A final vote is expected in early February.
The parliamentary calendar anticipates final adoption of the 2026 budget in early February. If the text is approved as is, the liquidation of the National Consumer Institute will become effective, opening a new phase for 60 million consumers and profoundly reshaping the public landscape of consumer information in France.
