Consumer confidence rose slightly but was still weak in September 2025

Consumer confidence in areas of residence and population groups

In September 2025, confidence in the economy was highest in Greater Helsinki (CCI -4.7) and lowest in Eastern and Northern Finland (-8.8). Of the socio-economic groups, upper-level salaried employees were clearly most optimistic (2.5). Unemployed persons had the most negative expectations concerning economic development (-19.9) in September.

In September, women’s (-9.7) interpretation of the economic development was still clearly gloomier than men’s (-3.6). More detailed information is available in the figures and database tables.

Consumers' own and Finland's economy

Consumers’ expectations concerning the development of Finland’s economy improved slightly in September compared to August but still remained on a fairly weak level. Consumers’ views on their own economy remained almost unchanged and cautious.

Compared to the previous year, consumers’ sentiments about their own economy improved in September, while expectations concerning Finland’s economy remained unchanged.

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Twenty-four per cent of consumers thought in September that their own economy was worse at the time of the survey than one year ago. Approximately as many, or 25 per cent, thought their own economy was better than in the year before. In September, 60 per cent of consumers thought that Finland’s economic situation was weaker than one year earlier, and only 10 per cent saw it as stronger.

In September, 21 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 38 per cent of them assumed that our country’s economy would decline. In all, 29 per cent of consumers believed in September that their own economy would improve and 17 per cent feared it would weaken over the year.

Unemployment and its threat

Consumers' expectations concerning the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland remained pessimistic in September. Only 15 per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the next year, and over one half, or 56 per cent, believed it would increase.

In September, employed consumers, that is, wage and salary earners and self-employed persons, reckoned that their personal threat of unemployment or lay-off also was relatively high. Five per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and one-fourth, or 25 per cent, thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 41 per cent of employed persons felt in September that they were not threatened by unemployment or lay-off at all.

Consumer prices

In September, consumers' estimates of the inflation at the time of the survey and price changes in one year's time were still fairly high.

Consumers estimated in September that consumer prices have risen by 4.6 per cent from last year's September and would go up by 3.8 per cent over the next year. Over one half of consumers, or 54 per cent, thought consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and 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 September, the time was regarded to be very poor for raising a loan and unfavourable for saving as well. Thirty per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for raising a loan and 43 per cent considered saving worthwhile. However, intentions to raise a loan were slightly higher than usual in September. Seventeen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.

Consumers' assessments of their own financial situation were slightly brighter in September than the long-term average. Still, it was estimated that there would be slightly fewer saving possibilities in the coming months than usual. In September, over one half, or 58 per cent of consumers, had been able to lay aside some money and 69 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.

Spending and intentions to make large purchases

In September, the time was still considered very unfavourable for buying durable goods. Only 15 per cent of consumers thought the time was favourable for making expensive purchases.

Consumers’ intentions to spend money on durable goods within the next 12 months were fairly scant in September. In September, only 10 per cent of consumers estimated they would increase and 36 per cent that they would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.

In September, slightly more consumers than the long-term average considered buying a car within one year. By contrast, plans to buy a dwelling and also intentions to renovate one’s dwelling were lower than usual.

In September, 15 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a car during the next 12 months. Only 11 per cent of consumers considered buying a dwelling or building a house. Sixteen per cent of consumers were planning to spend money on renovating their home 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 September 2025, a total of 1,260 persons participated in the Survey and the response rate was 58 per cent. The majority, or 80 per cent, of the responses came from the web questionnaire.

The consumer confidence indicator (CCI) is the average of the balance figures of its components: 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.