Consumer confidence weak but rose slightly in May 2026 – intentions to buy a dwelling lowest in measuring history

Consumer confidence in areas of residence and population groups

In May 2026, confidence in the economy was weak all over the country. It was highest in Greater Helsinki (CCI -8.4) and elsewhere in Southern Finland (-8.3) and lowest in Eastern Finland (-18.3). Of the socio-economic groups, self-employed persons were optimistic (2.7). In May, unemployed people clearly had very negative views concerning economic development (-25.2).

Women (-13.7) still described economic development in May as clearly gloomier than men did (-7.3). More detailed information is available in the figures and database tables.

Consumers' own and Finland's economy

In May, consumers’ views on their own economy at present and their expectations concerning Finland's general economy in 12 months' time were still very weak. Expectations concerning their own economy were also subdued.

However, views especially on one's own economy in general improved in May compared to April. Expectations concerning one's own and Finland's economy remained weaker compared to one year ago.

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Twenty-eight per cent of consumers thought in May that their own economy was worse at the time of the survey than one year ago. Twenty-five per cent of consumers considered their own economy better than one year earlier. Three-quarters or 73 per cent of consumers thought in May that Finland’s economic situation is now weaker than one year earlier, and only five per cent saw it as stronger.

In May, 16 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while nearly one half, or 46 per cent of them thought that our country’s economy would decline. As many as 29 per cent of consumers believed in May that their own economy would improve and 20 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 stayed almost unchanged and fairly gloomy in May. Only 15 per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the next year, and over one half, 57 per cent believed it would increase.

Employed consumers reckoned in May that their personal threat of unemployment or lay-off was still very high. Four per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and 29 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 38 per cent of employed persons felt in May that they were not threatened by unemployment or temporary lay-off at all.

Consumer prices

In May, consumers' estimates of inflation at the time of the survey continued to rise. Expectations concerning price changes in 12 months' time remained unchanged but high.

Consumers estimated in May that consumer prices have risen by 5.1 per cent from May last year and would go up by 4.4 per cent over the next year. Altogether 61 per cent of consumers thought that consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and 66 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 May, the time was still regarded very poor for taking out a loan and also for saving. Just 20 per cent or only every fifth consumer regarded the time favourable for taking out a loan and 39 per cent considered saving worthwhile. At the same time, intentions to raise a loan decreased and were slightly lower in May than usual. Fifteen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.

Consumers' assessment of their own financial situation strengthened to the long-term average level in May. Consumers estimated that their saving possibilities would be the same as usual in the coming months. In May, a good one half or 57 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

Despite a slight recovery, the time in May was still considered 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 remained very low in May. In May, 11 per cent of consumers estimated that they would increase and 39 per cent would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.

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In May, slightly fewer consumers than the long-term average considered buying a car within one year. Plans to buy a dwelling were now on level with November 1998, which is lowest throughout the measuring history 1998 to 2026. In May, consumers were also planning to renovate their dwelling clearly less than usual.

In May, 13 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a car during the next 12 months. Only nine per cent of consumers considered buying a dwelling or building a house. Fourteen 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 May 2026, a total of 1,157 persons participated in the Survey and the response rate was 53 per cent. The majority, 82 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.