France hourly wages index: distributive trades
France hourly wages index: distributive trades stood at 113.7 in Q2 2026, according to INSEE – Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (BDM). It is one of the indicators in the Wages and labour cost table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1998 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Wages and labour cost table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour cost index | |||||||||||
| hourly wages - Distributive trades (NAF rev. 2 item G) | 113.7 | 113 | 113.4 | 112.1 | 111.3 | 111.1 | 111.2 | 109.6 | 109.6 | 108.8 | |
| hourly wages - Transportation and storage (NAF rev. 2 item H) | 121.6 | 120.9 | 120.2 | 119 | 118.5 | 117.9 | 118.5 | 116.9 | 116.2 | 115.8 |
Understanding france hourly wages index: distributive trades
Remuneration per hour worked for personnel deployed across market entities buying and reselling merchandise without transformation reflects standard wage dynamics in retail and wholesale commercial networks. Within the broader labour cost architecture, this branch-specific indicator diverges from industrial or financial metrics by capturing remuneration tied to high-turnover consumer and business sales environments. The scope encompasses cashiers, stock handlers, and sales floor staff, excluding corporate headquarters personnel accounted for elsewhere.
Evaluating the series involves accounting for seasonal hiring surges around holiday shopping periods, which can temporarily shift average hourly payments through compositional changes in part-time versus full-time staffing. Analysts rely on year-on-year comparisons to bypass the strong regular rhythm of seasonal retail bonuses. Revisions often materialize in subsequent quarters as firms finalize retroactive commission adjustments and annual performance reviews.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of workers are captured in this retail wage metric?
- Cashiers, merchandise handlers, and front-line sales personnel within wholesale and retail trade.
- How do seasonal employment spikes affect the index?
- Temporary hiring shifts the ratio of junior to senior staff, which can alter the average hourly rate.
- Why is year-on-year comparison preferred for commercial trades?
- It neutralizes predictable annual bonus cycles and recurring seasonal labour shifts.