Consumer confidence remained unchanged and fairly weak in July 2026

Consumer confidence in areas of residence and population groups

In July 2026, confidence in the economy was strongest in Greater Helsinki (CCI -1.2) and weakest in Northern Finland (-10.6). Among socio-economic groups, upper-level salaried employees (4.4) and self-employed persons (2.0) were optimistic. In July, unemployed people had a very negative view concerning economic development (-14.1).

In July, women’s (-9.4) interpretation of the economic development was still clearly gloomier than men’s (-1.3). More detailed information is available in the figures and database tables.

Consumers' own and Finland's economy

In July, consumers’ expectations concerning both their own and Finland’s economy in 12 months’ time continued to improve slightly. Expectations were now on their long-term average level.

Consumers’ estimate of their own economy at present also improved somewhat in July compared to June but remained on a very weak level.

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Twenty-six per cent of consumers thought in July that their own economy was worse at the time of the survey than one year ago. Twenty-three per cent of consumers considered their own economy to be better than in the year before. In July, 53 per cent of consumers thought that Finland’s economic situation is now weaker than one year earlier, and 14 per cent saw it as stronger.

In July, 27 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 30 per cent of them assumed that our country’s economy would decline. In all, 29 per cent of consumers believed in July that their own economy would improve and 16 per cent feared it would weaken over the year.

Unemployment and its threat

Consumers’ expectations about the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland remained almost unchanged and fairly gloomy in July. Twenty per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the next year, and one half, or 50 per cent, believed it would increase.

In July, employed consumers reckoned that their personal threat of unemployment or lay-off was still high. Only seven per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and 26 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 36 per cent of employed persons felt in July that they were not threatened by unemployment or temporary lay-off at all.

Consumer prices

In July, consumers' estimates of inflation at the time of the survey and their expectations concerning price changes in one year's time continued to decline slightly.

Consumers estimated in July that consumer prices have risen by 4.5 per cent from last year's July and would go up by 3.7 per cent over the next year. Altogether 54 per cent of consumers thought consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and 57 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 July, the time was still regarded to be very poor for raising a loan and unfavourable for saving as well. Twenty-five per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for raising a loan and 41 per cent considered saving worthwhile. However, plans to raise a loan were on the usual level in July. Sixteen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.

Consumers' assessment of their own financial situation decreased from good to average in July. It was estimated that there would be slightly fewer saving possibilities in the coming months than usual. Fifty-eight per cent of consumers had been able to lay aside some money and 70 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.

Spending and intentions to make large purchases

In July, the time was again 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 decreased in July both from the previous month and from the previous year. Intentions were very low. In July, only 11 per cent of consumers estimated they would increase and as many as 39 per cent that they would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.

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Still, approximately as many consumers as usual considered buying a car over the next 12 months in July. Plans to buy a dwelling were again on a slightly lower level than the long-term average. Fewer consumers than usual had intentions to renovate their own dwelling in July.

In July, 14 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a car during the next 12 months. Eleven 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 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 July 2026, a total of 1,173 persons participated in the Survey and the response rate was 54 per cent. The majority, 84 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.