Consumer confidence slightly down

Consumer confidence declined a little further in June. The indicator fell from -17 in May to -19 in June. The mood among Dutch consumers has worsened considerably since September 2007. In June it reached its lowest point in two and a half years. The decrease in consumer confidence in June was attributable to less confidence in the state of the economy as well as less willingness to buy.

Structure consumer confidence

Consumers’ opinions about the economic climate deteriorated slightly. This was due to much more negative opinions about the economy in the last twelve months. Opinions about the economy in the next twelve months did not change much.

Opinions about the economy have deteriorated drastically in the last twelve months. In June 2007 confidence in the economy was at its highest level in years, with almost 30 percent more optimists than pessimists. In June 2008, however, there were almost 40 percent more pessimists than optimists.

The willingness to buy decreased a little. Mainly because consumers felt this was a much worse time to buy expensive items. The opinions consumers had about their own financial situation in the past twelve months did not change much.

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted