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Rabat – Families in Morocco continue to view their financial prospects with caution in early 2025, as inflation, unemployment fears, and rising living costs weigh heavily on public sentiment.
According to data published by the High Commission for Planning (HCP), although a few indicators point to minor improvements in perception, the general mood remains one of unease.
Unemployment still a major concern
A large majority of households in Morocco, over 80%, expect unemployment to rise over the next 12 months.
Only a small minority, 7.2%, anticipate a decrease, while 12.2% foresee no significant change. These numbers place the unemployment expectation balance at -73.4 points, slightly less negative than the -77.2 recorded the previous quarter and the -77.5 reported during the same period last year. While the shift is subtle, it signals a faint glimmer of improved confidence.
Durable goods out of reach for most
The prospect of making big purchases continues to feel out of step with reality for most families in Morocco.
Over 80% say this is not the time to buy durable goods, such as appliances or furniture. Just 8.1% feel otherwise. The balance of opinion stands at -72.0 points, a figure almost unchanged from the previous quarter and the same time in 2024.
Household finances under pressure
When it comes to daily life, financial pressure remains widespread. Over half of Moroccan households, 55.8%, say their incomes just cover their expenses. Another 42% either borrow or dip into their savings to make ends meet. Only 2.2% manage to set aside a portion of their income.
The current financial situation indicator remains firmly in the red at -39.8 points, barely changed from the previous quarter and roughly in line with last year’s level.
Looking back, most households, 53.3%, report a deterioration in their financial situation over the past year, compared to just 4% who notice an improvement. This pushes the perception balance to -49.3 points, a slight decline from the previous quarter.
As for the year ahead, optimism remains scarce. Only 14.6% expect their situation to improve, while 31% foresee it worsening. Most, 54.4%, believe it will stay the same. The balance of opinion here stands at -16.4 points.
Pessimism about saving grows deeper
Very few households feel confident about saving in the near future. Only 11.2% believe they will be able to save in the coming 12 months. An overwhelming 88.8% think the opposite. This yields a balance of -77.6 points, nearly identical to the previous quarter, with only a slight improvement compared to last year’s deeper pessimism.
Inflation dominates household worries
Above all, the steep rise in food prices looms largest in the minds of Moroccan families. Nearly every household (97.6%) reports that the cost of basic food items has gone up over the past year. The sentiment balance remains heavily negative at -97.4 points, a level virtually unchanged from recent quarters.
That anxiety stretches into the future. Most households, 81.6%, expect food prices to rise further in the next 12 months. Only 1.6% believe they might drop. This pushes the forward-looking inflation balance to -80.0 points, slightly better than the previous quarter, but worse than the same time last year.
Despite these small improvements in perception, Moroccan households remain locked in a landscape of financial uncertainty, where inflation, job insecurity, and limited prospects for saving or spending continue to shape a cautious national mood.
