Dutch consumer confidence falls by most

Dutch consumers are sombre. In  March 2012, consumer confidence in the Netherlands according to the European definition was -23.6. Twelve months previously it was still 8.1. Nowhere in Europe has consumer confidence fallen by so much as in the Netherlands.

Changes in consumer confidence, March 2012 

Dutch no longer among the most positive consumers

In March 2011, the Netherlands was still one of the countries with the highest consumer confidence in Europe. Twelve months on, the Dutch have been overtaken by a large number of countries and their consumer confidence is lower than the EU average. Greek consumers were most pessimistic, just as last year.

Dutch consumer confidence has been slightly lower than average in the EU for four months now. This is quite exceptional: in the space of more than 25 years it has only previously happened for in a few months in 2003.

Consumer confidence, March 2012

Dutch particularly concerned about unemployment and the economy

Compared with March last year, Dutch consumers are particularly more sombre about future developments in unemployment and the economic situation in the coming twelve months. Pessimism about their own future finances also increased, but by much less. The Dutch are also less positive about the amount they are able to save.

Consumer confidence by components, March 2012

Karin van der Ven and Wouter Jonkers