Consumer confidence remained low in October 2025 – unemployment seen as a threat

Consumer confidence in areas of residence and population groups

In October 2025, consumer confidence was strongest in Greater Helsinki (CCI -2.6) and weakest elsewhere in Southern Finland (-12.7). Of the socio-economic groups, upper-level salaried employees were clearly most optimistic (0.7). In October, unemployed persons had the gloomiest expectations concerning economic development (-14.7).

Women (-10.2) still described economic development as clearly gloomier in October than men did (-5.0). More detailed information is available in the figures and database tables.

Consumers' own and Finland's economy

In October, consumers' estimates of their own economy at present weakened compared to September and were again on a low level. Expectations concerning both consumers’ own and Finland's economy in 12 months remained unchanged but subdued at the same time.

Compared to one year ago, consumers' views concerning their own economy fell in October, while their expectations concerning Finland's economy continued unchanged.

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Twenty-six per cent of consumers thought in October that their own economy was worse at the time of the survey than one year ago. Slightly fewer, 24 per cent, considered their own economy better than one year earlier. As many as two-thirds or 67 per cent of consumers thought in October that Finland’s economic situation was now weaker than one year earlier, and only eight per cent saw it as stronger.

In October, 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 decline. In all, 27 per cent of consumers believed in October that their own economy would improve and 18 per cent of them feared it would weaken over the year.

Unemployment and its threat

Consumers' expectations concerning the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland grew more pessimistic in October. Only 15 per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the next year and as many as 59 per cent reckoned it would increase.

Employed consumers, that is, wage and salary earners and self-employed persons, reckoned in October that their personal threat of unemployment or lay-off was worse than before. Four per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and nearly a third or 30 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 35 per cent of employed persons felt in October that they were not threatened by unemployment or temporary lay-off at all.

Consumer prices

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

Consumers estimated in October that consumer prices have risen by 4.3 per cent from last year's October and would go up by 3.5 per cent over the next year. Over one-half of consumers, 52 per cent, thought that consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and 53 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 October, the time was regarded very poor for taking out a loan and unfavourable also for saving. Just 28 per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for taking out a loan and 42 per cent considered saving worthwhile. There were slightly fewer plans to raise a loan in October than usual. Fifteen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.

Consumers' estimates of their own financial situation were in October similar to the long-term average. Consumers estimated that their saving possibilities would be as usual in the coming months. In October, good one half or 56 per cent of consumers had been able to lay aside some money and 71 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.

Spending and intentions to make large purchases

In October, the time was still regarded very unfavourable for buying durable goods. Only 14 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 were low in October. In October, just 10 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 October, slightly fewer consumers than the long-term average considered buying a car within one year. At the same time, consumers had clearly fewer plans than usual to buy a dwelling and also to renovate their own dwelling.

In October, only 13 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a passenger car within the next 12 months. Only 10 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 October 2025, a total of 1,128 persons participated in the Survey and the response rate was 52 per cent. The majority, 86 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.