Consumer confidence further down

21/12/2021 15:00

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In December, confidence among Dutch consumers has deteriorated for the third month in a row, as reported today by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The consumer confidence indicator stands at -25 this month, down from -19 in November. Both consumers´ sentiment about the general economic situation and willingness to buy have deteriorated.

At -25, the consumer confidence indicator in December is positioned below its long-term average over the past two decades (-8). The indicator reached an all-time high (36) in January 2000 and an all-time low (-41) in March 2013.

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted
Year	Month	balance (average of the component questions)
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	1
2019	February	-2
2019	March	-3
2019	April	-3
2019	May	-3
2019	June	-1
2019	July	1
2019	August	-1
2019	September	-2
2019	October	-1
2019	November	-2
2019	December	-2
2020	January	-2
2020	February	-2
2020	March	-3
2020	April	-23
2020	May	-31
2020	June	-27
2020	July	-26
2020	August	-29
2020	September	-28
2020	October	-30
2020	November	-26
2020	December	-20
2021	January	-19
2021	February	-19
2021	March	-18
2021	April	-14
2021	May	-9
2021	June	-3
2021	July	-4
2021	August	-6
2021	September	-5
2021	October	-10
2021	November	-19
2021	December	-25

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted
Year	Month	balance (average of the component questions)
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	1
2019	February	-2
2019	March	-3
2019	April	-3
2019	May	-3
2019	June	-1
2019	July	1
2019	August	-1
2019	September	-2
2019	October	-1
2019	November	-2
2019	December	-2
2020	January	-2
2020	February	-2
2020	March	-3
2020	April	-23
2020	May	-31
2020	June	-27
2020	July	-26
2020	August	-29
2020	September	-28
2020	October	-30
2020	November	-26
2020	December	-20
2021	January	-19
2021	February	-19
2021	March	-18
2021	April	-14
2021	May	-9
2021	June	-3
2021	July	-4
2021	August	-6
2021	September	-5
2021	October	-10
2021	November	-19
2021	December	-25

Consumers again more pessimistic about the economy

Consumers’ sentiment about the economic climate is more negative than in November. This component indicator stands at -38, down from -28. Consumers are more negative both about the economic situation over the next twelve months and about the economic situation over the past twelve months.

Willingness to buy further down

Consumers’ willingness to buy stands at -17, down from -14 in November. Consumers are more negative both about their financial situation in the next twelve months and about their financial position in the past twelve months. Furthermore, they find the time for large purchases more unfavourable compared to November.

More and more consumers classify price increases as sharp

In December, 55 percent of consumers have classified the price increases in the past year as sharp. This is the highest percentage since the beginning of the time series in 2017. The percentage expecting inflation to accelerate in the coming twelve months dropped from 45 in November to 33 in December.

Consumers considering price increases as sharp
jaar	maand	percentage (%)
2018	January	14
2018	February	15
2018	March	16
2018	April	18
2018	May	21
2018	June	25
2018	July	20
2018	August	24
2018	September	23
2018	October	23
2018	November	22
2018	December	23
2019	January	21
2019	February	30
2019	March	37
2019	April	37
2019	May	40
2019	June	36
2019	July	40
2019	August	37
2019	September	37
2019	October	32
2019	November	30
2019	December	29
2020	January	32
2020	February	33
2020	March	25
2020	April	18
2020	May	15
2020	June	18
2020	July	21
2020	August	22
2020	September	18
2020	October	18
2020	November	16
2020	December	17
2021	January	16
2021	February	19
2021	March	21
2021	April	19
2021	May	24
2021	June	33
2021	July	40
2021	August	37
2021	September	43
2021	October	48
2021	November	53
2021	December	55

Consumers considering price increases as sharp
jaar	maand	percentage (%)
2018	January	14
2018	February	15
2018	March	16
2018	April	18
2018	May	21
2018	June	25
2018	July	20
2018	August	24
2018	September	23
2018	October	23
2018	November	22
2018	December	23
2019	January	21
2019	February	30
2019	March	37
2019	April	37
2019	May	40
2019	June	36
2019	July	40
2019	August	37
2019	September	37
2019	October	32
2019	November	30
2019	December	29
2020	January	32
2020	February	33
2020	March	25
2020	April	18
2020	May	15
2020	June	18
2020	July	21
2020	August	22
2020	September	18
2020	October	18
2020	November	16
2020	December	17
2021	January	16
2021	February	19
2021	March	21
2021	April	19
2021	May	24
2021	June	33
2021	July	40
2021	August	37
2021	September	43
2021	October	48
2021	November	53
2021	December	55

Sources

StatLine - Consumer confidence, economic climate and willingness to buy

Consumers again more pessimistic about the economy

Willingness to buy further down

More and more consumers classify price increases as sharp

Sources

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