Consumer confidence improved to its long-term average level in August 2026

Consumer confidence in areas of residence and population groups

In August 2026, consumer confidence in the economy was strongest in Greater Helsinki (CCI 0.8) and weakest elsewhere in Southern Finland (-4.8). Of the socio-economic groups, upper-level salaried employees (6.8) and self-employed persons (6.2) were clearly optimistic. Pensioners (-11.5) and unemployed persons (-11.3) had very negative views about economic development in August.

Women (-5.0) still described economic development in August as clearly gloomier than men did (-1.1). More detailed information is available in the figures and database tables.

Consumers' own and Finland's economy

In August, consumers' views on their own economy at present and Finland's economy in 12 months' time improved slightly. Consumers' views on their own economy remained unchanged.

Consumers' expectations concerning their own and Finland's economy were on the long-term average level in August. By contrast, consumers’ views of their own economy at present were still fairly subdued.

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Twenty-four per cent of consumers thought in August that their own economy was worse at the time of the survey than one year ago. Slightly more or 26 per cent of consumers considered their own economy better than one year earlier. In August, 46 per cent of consumers thought that Finland’s economic situation was now weaker than one year earlier, and 19 per cent saw it as stronger.

In August, 31 per cent of consumers expected that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 29 per cent of them thought that our country’s economy would decline. In all, 32 per cent of consumers believed in August 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 about the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland improved in August to the long-term average level. Twenty-three per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the year and 44 per cent believed it would increase.

However, employed consumers reckoned in August 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 as many as 29 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 37 per cent of employed persons felt in August that they were not threatened by unemployment or temporary lay-off at all.

Consumer prices

In August, consumers' estimates of the inflation at the time of the survey and expectations concerning price changes in one year's time rose again clearly.

Consumers estimated in August that consumer prices have risen by 5.0 per cent from August last year and would go up by 4.2 per cent over the next year. Altogether 58 per cent of consumers thought that consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and as many as 62 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 August, the time was still regarded very poor for taking out a loan and unfavourable also for saving. Twenty-four per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for taking out a loan and 43 per cent considered saving worthwhile. However, slightly more than usual were planning to take out a loan in August. Sixteen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.

Consumers' estimates about their own financial situation went up to a fairly good level in August. Consumers estimated that they would still have somewhat fewer saving possibilities than usual in the coming months. Fifty-six per cent of households 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 August, 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.

However, consumers’ intentions to spend money on durable goods in the next 12 months increased in August. Intentions were already on the average level. In August, 14 per cent of consumers estimated that they would increase and 35 per cent would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.

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In August, as many consumers as usual considered buying a car during the next 12 months. There were still slightly fewer plans to buy a dwelling than the long-term average. Plans to renovate one's dwelling in August were unchanged from the usual level.

In August, 14 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. Seventeen 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 August 2026, a total of 1,112 persons participated in the Survey and the response rate was 51 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.