THE CONGOLESE PEOPLE AND THE ISSUE OF PURCHASING POWER

Over recent years, household purchasing power has emerged as a key indicator of the socio-economic situation, particularly in a context characterised by inflationary pressures, exchange rate fluctuations and structural economic changes. In this context, people’s perception of their standard of living constitutes a key factor in assessing economic dynamics beyond macroeconomic aggregates alone.

Against this backdrop, an initial survey was conducted in 2022 by Target SARL in order to assess public perceptions regarding changes in purchasing power and to identify the priority actions expected from public authorities. Four years later, in 2026, the study was repeated using a comparable approach, with the aim of measuring the changes that have occurred, identifying possible shifts in perception and gaining a better understanding of the new expectations expressed by households.

This approach forms part of a longitudinal monitoring framework, making it possible to highlight trends, potential disruptions and the explanatory factors behind changes in perceived purchasing power. It also aims to provide decision-making support for public and private stakeholders by highlighting the intervention priorities considered most relevant by the population.