Consumer confidence hardly changed

20/02/2020 15:00

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According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the mood among Dutch consumers has hardly changed. In February, the consumer confidence indicator stands at -2, up from -3 in January. Opinions on the economic climate improve marginally, while consumers’ willingness to buy remains more or less the same.

At -2, the consumer confidence indicator in February stands above its long-term average over the past two decades (-5). The indicator reached an all-time high in January 2000 (36) and an all-time low in March 2013 (-41).

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted
Year	Month	balance (average of the component questions)
2016	March	2
2016	April	6
2016	May	7
2016	June	11
2016	July	9
2016	August	9
2016	September	12
2016	October	17
2016	November	20
2016	December	21
2017	January	21
2017	February	22
2017	March	24
2017	April	26
2017	May	23
2017	June	23
2017	July	25
2017	August	26
2017	September	23
2017	October	23
2017	November	22
2017	December	25
2018	January	24
2018	February	23
2018	March	24
2018	April	25
2018	May	23
2018	June	23
2018	July	23
2018	August	21
2018	September	18
2018	October	15
2018	November	13
2018	December	9
2019	January	0
2019	February	-2
2019	March	-4
2019	April	-3
2019	May	-3
2019	June	0
2019	July	2
2019	August	0
2019	September	-2
2019	October	-1
2019	November	-2
2019	December	-2
2020	January	-3
2020	February	-2

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted
Year	Month	balance (average of the component questions)
2016	March	2
2016	April	6
2016	May	7
2016	June	11
2016	July	9
2016	August	9
2016	September	12
2016	October	17
2016	November	20
2016	December	21
2017	January	21
2017	February	22
2017	March	24
2017	April	26
2017	May	23
2017	June	23
2017	July	25
2017	August	26
2017	September	23
2017	October	23
2017	November	22
2017	December	25
2018	January	24
2018	February	23
2018	March	24
2018	April	25
2018	May	23
2018	June	23
2018	July	23
2018	August	21
2018	September	18
2018	October	15
2018	November	13
2018	December	9
2019	January	0
2019	February	-2
2019	March	-4
2019	April	-3
2019	May	-3
2019	June	0
2019	July	2
2019	August	0
2019	September	-2
2019	October	-1
2019	November	-2
2019	December	-2
2020	January	-3
2020	February	-2

Opinions on economic climate improve marginally

Consumers’ willingness to buy has hardly changed. This component indicator stands at 1, up from 0 in January. Opinions on both their financial situation over the past twelve months and their financial situation in the coming twelve months have improved slightly. Consumers find this an equally favourable time to make large purchases.

The component indicator Economic climate has improved marginally: from -7 in January to -5 in February. Consumers are slightly less negative about the economic climate in the coming twelve months and slightly more positive about the economic climate in the past twelve months.

Consumers no longer negative about future unemployment

In February, the number of consumers expecting unemployment to rise in the coming twelve months equalled the number expecting unemployment to fall. On balance, consumers anticipated an increase in the previous months.

Expectations on unemployment
Year	Month	balance (balance % positive and % negative answers)
2016	March	-36
2016	April	-16
2016	May	-19
2016	June	2
2016	July	-3
2016	August	2
2016	September	7
2016	October	2
2016	November	13
2016	December	23
2017	January	36
2017	February	43
2017	March	38
2017	April	42
2017	May	34
2017	June	37
2017	July	36
2017	August	45
2017	September	41
2017	October	49
2017	November	45
2017	December	50
2018	January	53
2018	February	51
2018	March	52
2018	April	52
2018	May	45
2018	June	49
2018	July	46
2018	August	46
2018	September	46
2018	October	36
2018	November	38
2018	December	28
2019	January	25
2019	February	25
2019	March	25
2019	April	21
2019	May	28
2019	June	29
2019	July	23
2019	August	11
2019	September	12
2019	October	5
2019	November	-11
2019	December	-13
2020	January	-6
2020	February	0

Expectations on unemployment
Year	Month	balance (balance % positive and % negative answers)
2016	March	-36
2016	April	-16
2016	May	-19
2016	June	2
2016	July	-3
2016	August	2
2016	September	7
2016	October	2
2016	November	13
2016	December	23
2017	January	36
2017	February	43
2017	March	38
2017	April	42
2017	May	34
2017	June	37
2017	July	36
2017	August	45
2017	September	41
2017	October	49
2017	November	45
2017	December	50
2018	January	53
2018	February	51
2018	March	52
2018	April	52
2018	May	45
2018	June	49
2018	July	46
2018	August	46
2018	September	46
2018	October	36
2018	November	38
2018	December	28
2019	January	25
2019	February	25
2019	March	25
2019	April	21
2019	May	28
2019	June	29
2019	July	23
2019	August	11
2019	September	12
2019	October	5
2019	November	-11
2019	December	-13
2020	January	-6
2020	February	0

Sources

StatLine - Consumer confidence, economic climate and willingness to buy

Opinions on economic climate improve marginally

Consumers no longer negative about future unemployment

Sources

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