Consumers slightly less negative in January
![](https://cdn.cbs.nl/images/4c326666456763365a50705771722f545270795750773d3d/900x450.jpg)
At -28, the consumer confidence indicator in January 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) |
---|---|---|
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 |
2023 | October | -38 |
2023 | November | -33 |
2023 | December | -29 |
2024 | January | -28 |
Consumers less pessimistic about the economy
Consumers are less pessimistic about the economy in January than they were in December. This component indicator increased to -39, compared to -41 in December. Consumers' assessments about the economic situation in the past twelve months improved, but those about the economic situation in the next twelve months were slightly more negative.
Willingness to buy less negative
Consumers’ willingness to buy stands at -20 in January, up from -21 in December. Whereas consumers’ assessment of their own financial situation over the 12 preceding months has improved, their outlook for the next 12 months has remained unchanged. Consumers are also slightly less negative about making large purchases in January than they were in December.
January 2024 (balance % positive answers and % negative answers) | December 2023 (balance % positive answers and % negative answers) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Consumer confidence | Average component questions | -28 | -29 |
Economic climate | Economic situation past 12 months | -59 | -62 |
Economic climate | Economic situation next 12 months | -20 | -19 |
Willingness to buy | Financial situation last 12 months | -22 | -24 |
Willingness to buy | Financial situation next 12 months | 2 | 2 |
Willingness to buy | Good time to buy consumer durables | -39 | -40 |
Sources
Related items
- Dossier - Business cycle