Consumer confidence up substantially
Consumer confidence is 9 points up in June. This is a substantial increase, and puts the indicator above the zero line for the first time in five years. The optimists now outnumber the pessimists. Consumer confidence is higher than the preceding month for the tenth month in succession. In this period consumer confidence has risen by a total of 32 points.
Consumers are considerably more positive about the economic climate in June than a month earlier. Their opinion on the economy in the last twelve months in particular has improved substantially. For the first time since March 2001 consumers were positive on this aspect. Their opinion on the coming twelve months also improved significantly and reached its highest value since 1986 (when the series began).
In June consumers are also more willing to spend their money. This is because their opinions on their own financial situation have improved considerably. Consumers hardly changed their mind about whether it is a good time to buy expensive consumer durables.
The percentage of consumer expecting a decrease in unemployment, is 47 in June. This is the highest value in over five and a half years. This percentage has been climbing for two years now.
To allow comparisons among member states of the European Union, the consumer confidence is also calculated according to the European harmonized method. According to this method, Dutch consumer confidence was 9 in May. This is 4 points up on April. A focus article examining the European figures in more detail will be published on Monday 10 July.
