France’s Second‑Hand Market Surges Amid Declining Purchasing Power

With household budgets tightening, French shoppers are flocking to flea markets and garage sales to stretch their euros. In Villeneuve‑d’Ascq, families negotiate for items priced at a euro or a few euros, while a retiree praised finding a mirror for €1. Sellers report earnings of up to €140 in a single day, highlighting the growing role of these markets for both saving money and generating supplemental income.

At the same time, the broader European second‑hand and refurbished sector is expanding rapidly. An early‑2026 study by Cross‑Border Commerce Europe valued the market at €121 billion, growing about 18 % annually, with France contributing roughly €12 billion and seeing a 20 % yearly increase. Smartphone refurbishment alone accounts for about one in five phones sold in France, delivering average price savings of 40 % versus new devices. Platform Back Market now controls an estimated 35‑40 % of the refurbished market, while brands launch their own reconditioning programmes to capture value.