Consumer confidence again hardly changed

At -2, the consumer confidence indicator in November stands above its long-term average over the past two decades (-4). The indicator reached an all-time high in January 2000 (36) and an all-time low in March 2013 (-41).

Willingness to buy unchanged, opinions on economic climate more or less the same

Consumers’ willingness to buy has not changed in November. This component indicator stands at 1, the same as in October. Opinions on their financial situation over the past twelve months remained the same, while opinions on their financial situation in the coming twelve months are slightly more positive. However, consumers find this a slightly less favourable time to make large purchases.

The component indicator on Economic climate hardly changed: from -4 in October to -5 in November. Consumers were slightly less positive about the economic climate in the past twelve months and slightly more negative about the economic climate in the coming twelve months.

Negative about future unemployment

For the first time in over three years, consumers’ expectations on employment are negative. One-quarter of the respondents expect unemployment to decline in the twelve months to come, whereas 36 percent anticipate a rise. With -11, the balance is lower than in the previous month (5). In the past months, unemployment increased, according to the unemployment indicator of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).