Consumer confidence; 1972-2016

Table explanation

Description topics

Consumer confidence

Consumer confidence is the balance of positive and negative replies as a
percentage of the total, per month.
The consumer confidence survey provides information on confidence and
expectations of consumers regarding the developments of the economic
situation in the Netherlands. Each month the consumer confidence survey
asks approximately one thousand respondents five
questions concerning the economic situation in general and their own
personal financial situation. Positive and negative answers are possible.
Subsequently, the number of positive and negative answers to each of the
questions are totalled. The consumer confidence indicator gives a fairly
accurate picture of future developments in consumption expenditure,
particularly expenditure on durable consumer goods. In addition to the
original figures, seasonally adjusted figures are available. Consumer
confidence is also surveyed in the US and the other member states of the
EU. International data are published by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.

Original series

The original series includes monthly, quarterly as well as annual figures.

Indicator: consumer confidence

Consumer confidence is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.

Seasonally adjusted series

The seasonally adjusted series contains only monthly data. Consumers
are generally slightly more optimistic in spring and summer than in
the rest of the year. In order to provide a proper understanding of
the notion of consumer confidence (or parts of it), series are
calculated in which the seasonal pattern has been eliminated. As a
result of this seasonal adjustment, the figures of consecutive months can
be compared more accurately.
The seasonal adjustment is implemented each year in January.
Because of this the most recent results may vary from those in earlier
publications.

Indicator: consumer confidence

Consumer confidence is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.

Economic climate

Economic climate is the balance of positive and negative answers as a
percentage of the total, per month. Economic climate is a component
indicator of consumer confidence.
In the consumer confidence survey approximately one thousand
respondents asked two questions regarding the economic
situation in general.
Subsequently, the balance of positive and negative answers as a
percentage of the total number of answers to each question is established.
The economic climate is the arithmetic average of the two balances.

Original series

The original series includes monthly, quarterly as well as annual figures.

Indicator: economic climate

Economic climate is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into the
response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse' (henceforth: Pn)
are aggregated (unweighted).
The economic climate index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to two subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.

Seasonally adjusted series

The seasonally adjusted series contains only monthly data. Consumers
are generally slightly more optimistic in spring and summer than in
the rest of the year. In order to provide a proper understanding of
the notion of consumer confidence (or parts of it), series are
calculated in which the seasonal pattern has been eliminated. As a
result of this seasonal adjustment, the figures of consecutive months can
be compared more accurately.
The seasonal adjustment is implemented each year in January.
Because of this the most recent results may vary from those in earlier
publications.

Indicator: economic climate

Economic climate is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into the response
categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better' (henceforth: Pp) and
the percentage falling into the response categories 'slightly worse' and
'clearly worse' (henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The economic climate index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to two subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.

Willingness to buy

Willingness to buy is the balance of positive and negative replies as
a percentage of the total, per month. Willingness to buy is a
component indicator of consumer confidence.
Each month the Consumer Confidence Survey asks approximately one thousand
respondents two questions concerning their own financial situation.
Additionally, the consumer is asked whether he considers it the right
time to make large purchases.
The balance of positive and negative answers as a
percentage of the total number of answers to each question is established.
Willingness to buy is the arithmetic average of the three balances and a
fair indicator of consumer expenditure on durables.

Original series

The original series includes monthly, quarterly as well as annual figures.

Indicator: willingness to buy

Willingness to buy is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.

Seasonally adjusted series

The seasonally adjusted series contains only monthly data. Consumers
are generally slightly more optimistic in spring and summer than in
the rest of the year. In order to provide a proper understanding of
the notion of consumer confidence (or parts of it), series are
calculated in which the seasonal pattern has been eliminated. As a
result of this seasonal adjustment, the figures of consecutive months can
be compared more accurately.
The seasonal adjustment is implemented each year in January.
Because of this the most recent results may vary from those in earlier
publications.

Indicator: willingness to buy

Willingness to buy is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.