Consumers slightly less negative in September
At -39, the consumer confidence indicator in September is positioned well below its long-term average over the past two decades (-10). The indicator reached an all-time high (36) in January 2000 while the all-time low (-59) was reached in September and October 2022. CBS has monitored consumer confidence monthly since April 1986.
| year | month | balance (average of the component questions) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | -19 |
| 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 | -20 |
| 2021 | December | -26 |
| 2022 | January | -28 |
| 2022 | February | -30 |
| 2022 | March | -39 |
| 2022 | April | -48 |
| 2022 | May | -47 |
| 2022 | June | -50 |
| 2022 | July | -51 |
| 2022 | August | -54 |
| 2022 | September | -59 |
| 2022 | October | -59 |
| 2022 | November | -56 |
| 2022 | December | -52 |
| 2023 | January | -49 |
| 2023 | February | -44 |
| 2023 | March | -39 |
| 2023 | April | -37 |
| 2023 | May | -38 |
| 2023 | June | -39 |
| 2023 | July | -39 |
| 2023 | August | -40 |
| 2023 | September | -39 |
Consumers slightly more pessimistic about the economy
Consumers are marginally more pessimistic about the economy in September than they were in August. This component indicator decreased to -57, compared to -56 in August. Both consumers' opinions about the economic situation in the past twelve months and about the economic situation in the next twelve months are slightly more negative.
Willingness to buy equally somewhat less negative
Consumers’ willingness to buy stands at -28 in September, up from -29 in August. Opinions about the financial situation in the past twelve months and opinions about the financial situation in the next twelve months remain the same. Consumers are less negative about making large purchases in September than they were in Augsut.
| September | August | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer confidence | Average component questions | -39 | -40 |
| Economic climate | Economic situation past 12 months | -76 | -75 |
| Economic climate | Economic situation next 12 months | -39 | -36 |
| Willingness to buy | Financial situation last 12 months | -29 | -29 |
| Willingness to buy | Financial situation next 12 months | -5 | -5 |
| Willingness to buy | Good time to buy consumer durables | -49 | -54 |
Sources
Related items
- Dossier - Business cycle