Consumer confidence unchanged

Consumer confidence remained unchanged in December. For the third month in a row there were almost as many optimists as pessimists. Compared to November consumers were slightly less negative about the economic climate, while the willingness to buy slightly deteriorated.

Structure consumer confidence

Consumers’ willingness to buy weakened somewhat in December. Compared to November consumers became more pessimistic about their own finances, whereas at the same time they considered this a good time to buy consumer durables. Consumers were far more negative about their own financial situation over the past twelve months deteriorated substantially compared to November. Their opinion about their financial situation in the twelve months was a fraction more negative. They do find this a slightly more favourable time for major purchases though.

The opinion on the economic climate in the Netherlands  improved a bit. Consumers were significantly more optimistic about the economic climate over the past twelve months than the preceding month. They were a bit less negative about the economic situation in the next twelve months.

Several factors, such as unemployment, share prices, house prices and the inflation rate play a role in consumer confidence. Since the late nineties developments of the AEX-index and consumer confidence run almost parallel.  This is described in Consumer confidence closely matches sentiments at the stock exchange

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted