Consumer confidence still weak in March 2025 – optimism risen among self-employed persons

Consumer confidence in areas of residence and population groups

In March 2025, confidence in the economy was exceptionally strongest in Eastern Finland (CCI -4.6). Confidence was weakest in Southern Finland outside Greater Helsinki (-9.5). Of the socio-economic groups, self-employed persons were considerably optimistic (3.1). In March, unemployed people clearly had the gloomiest expectations concerning economic development (-22.8).

Women (-12.0) still described economic development in March as clearly gloomier than men did (-4.5). More detailed information is available in the figures and database tables.

Consumers' own and Finland's economy

In March, consumers' views on their own economy at present improved slightly from February, but the estimate still remained very weak. Expectations concerning their own and Finland's economy in 12 months' time continued more or less unchanged and subdued.

Compared to one year ago, consumers’ views of Finland's economy brightened a little in March, while views of their own economy did not change much.

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Twenty-nine per cent of consumers thought in March that their own economy was weaker at the time of the survey than one year ago. Twenty-three per cent of consumers regarded their own economy stronger than in the previous year. Sixty-four per cent of consumers thought in March that Finland’s economic situation was now worse than one year earlier, and only 10 per cent saw it as better.

In March, just 22 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 39 per cent of them thought that our country’s economy would deteriorate. In all, 29 per cent of consumers believed in November that their own economy would improve and 19 per cent of them feared it would worsen over the year.

Unemployment and its threat

Consumers' expectations concerning the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland remained fairly gloomy in March even though somewhat improved. Fifteen per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the year and 57 per cent believed it would increase.

Employed consumers, that is, wage and salary earners and self-employed persons, reckoned in March that their personal threat of unemployment or lay-off was higher than before. Only five per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and 27 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 41 per cent of employed persons felt in March that they were not threatened by unemployment or temporary lay-off at all.

Consumer prices

In March, consumers' estimates of the inflation at the time of the survey and concerning price changes in one year's time remained high

Consumers estimated in March that consumer prices have risen by 5.3 per cent from last year's March and would go up by 4.2 per cent over the next year. Altogether 63 per cent of consumers thought that consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and over one half or 55 per cent of them expected prices to rise at least at the same rate over the coming months as well.

Financial situation, saving and raising a loan

In March, the time was still regarded – despite slight recovery – very poor for taking out a loan and also for saving. Thirty-one per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for raising a loan and 41 per cent considered saving worthwhile. There were slightly fewer plans to raise a loan in March than usual. Fifteen per cent of consumers were planning to take out a loan within one year.

Consumers' assessment of their own financial situation was in March similar to the long-term average. Consumers estimated that their saving possibilities would be similar to usual in the coming months. Fifty-eight per cent of consumers had been able to lay aside some money and 73 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.

Spending and intentions to make large purchases

In March the time was still regarded very unfavourable for buying durable goods. Only 11 per cent of consumers thought the time was favourable for making expensive purchases.

Consumers’ intentions to spend money on durable goods in the next 12 months continued very low in March. In March, nine per cent of consumers estimated that they would increase and 38 per cent would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.

In March, fewer than usual were planning to buy a car within 12 months. Similarly, fewer consumers than usual had plans to buy a dwelling or make renovations to their dwelling.

In March, 13 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a car within the next 12 months. Eleven per cent of consumers considered buying a dwelling or building a house. Fifteen per cent of consumers were planning to spend money on renovating their dwelling during the next 12 months.

Data set for the statistics

The Consumer Confidence Survey is carried out with a self-filled web questionnaire and by telephone interviews. Answers are mainly given by means of answer options. In March 2025, a total of 1,266 persons participated in the Survey and the response rate was 58 per cent. Of the responses, 80 per cent came from the web questionnaire.

The components of the consumer confidence indicator (CCI) are: own economy now, own economy in 12 months, Finland's economy in 12 months and own intentions to buy durable goods in the next 12 months.

EU results

The (seasonally adjusted) survey results concerning economic expectations for all EU countries are released monthly on the European Commission website.