Consumer confidence slightly higher in August

Consumer confidence in August was slightly higher than in July. Dutch consumer confidence has clearly improved since the autumn of 2005. For the third month in a row the optimistic consumers outnumbered the pessimists.

The slight improvement in consumer confidence was mainly due to more optimism about the economic climate in general and about the economic situation in the next twelve months in particular.

There was no change in willingness to buy, nor in the opinions consumers had about their own financial situation and their willingness to buy durable goods. However, willingness to buy durable goods showed a strong recovery in the previous months. This held in August.

The European harmonised consumer price index is used to compare consumer confidence in the various member states of the European Union. An article in Focus (“Dutch consumers more positive than their European counterparts”), published on Monday 10 July elaborates on the European figures.

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted