Home > Statistics > Consumer Confidence > 2016 > August > Consumers feel the economic outlook is already bright

Published: 29 August 2016

Consumers feel the economic outlook is already bright

Consumers’ confidence in the economy improved in August. The consumer confidence indicator (CCI) stood at 15.7 in August, whereas in July it was 13.1 and in June 14.9. Confidence in the economy has last been this strong in May 2015 and prior to that in spring 2011. Last year in August, the CCI received the value 8.3. The long-term average for the CCI is 11.7. The data are based on Statistics Finland’s Consumer Survey, for which 1,192 people resident in Finland were interviewed between 1 and 19 August.

Consumer confidence indicator (CCI)

All four components of the CCI improved slightly in August when compared to July. Expectations concerning their own and Finland's economy and unemployment improved also and more clearly compared with August 2015. Views on one’s own saving possibilities remained unchanged year-on-year.

In August, consumers’ expectations of Finland’s economic situation were bright. Views on the consumer’s own economy and general unemployment were at long term average levels. Consumers considered their own saving possibilities over the next 12 months good.

In August, consumers regarded the time favourable for buying durable goods and especially for taking out a loan but not so much for saving. In August, the personal threat of unemployment experienced by employed consumers eased to the long-term average level.

Consumers' own and Finland's economy

In August, 39 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 18 per cent of them thought that the country’s economy would deteriorate. The corresponding proportions were 38 and 20 per cent in July, and 30 and 27 per cent one year ago in August.

In all, 27 per cent of consumers believed in August that their own economy would improve and 13 per cent of them feared it would worsen over the year. In July and one year ago the respective proportions were 24 and 14 per cent.

Consumers' expectations concerning their own and Finland's economy in 12 months' time

Unemployment and inflation

Altogether 28 per cent of consumers thought in August that unemployment would decrease over the year, while 33 per cent of them believed it would increase. The corresponding proportions were 25 and 34 per cent one month ago and 14 and 50 per cent one year ago.

Thirteen per cent of employed persons reckoned in August that their personal threat of unemployment had lessened over the past few months, while 18 per cent thought it had grown. Twenty-six per cent of employed persons felt that they were not threatened by unemployment at all.

Consumers predicted in August that consumer prices would go up by 1.4 per cent over the next 12 months. The predicted long-term average inflation rate is 2.2 per cent.

Buying of durable goods

In August, 50 per cent of consumers thought the time was favourable for buying durable goods. General intentions to spend money were still moderate. Seventeen per cent of households were fairly or very certain to buy a car and seven per cent a dwelling during the next 12 months. In August, 19 per cent of households were planning to spend money on renovating their dwelling within a year.

Saving and taking out a loan

Altogether, 57 per cent of consumers considered saving worthwhile in August. In all, 66 per cent of households had been able to lay aside some money and 80 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.

In August, 72 per cent of consumers regarded the time good for raising a loan. Fourteen per cent of households considered raising a loan within one year.

Consumer confidence by major region and population group

In August, consumers' confidence in the economy was strongest in Northern Finland and unexceptionally weakest in Greater Helsinki. Among population groups, upper-level salaried employees were most optimistic. Pensioners had the gloomiest expectations concerning economic development.

Consumers' views of the economy

	Average 10/1995-	Max. 10/1995-	Min. 10/1995-	08/2015	07/2016	08/2016	Outlook
A1 Consumer confidence indicator, CCI = (B2+B4+B7+D2)/4	11.7	22.9	-6.5	8.3	13.1	15.7	+
B2 Own economy in 12 months' time (balance)	8.3	14.1	2.3	5.5	6.3	8.2	=
B4 Finland's economy in 12 months' time (balance)	3.1	25.3	-27.1	-0.7	8.3	9.7	+
B6 Inflation in 12 months' time (per cent)	2.2	4.6	0.6	1.5	1.4	1.4
B7 Unemployment in Finland in 12 months' time (balance)	-4.1	27.6	-51.1	-20.6	-5.8	-3.9	=
B8 Own threat of unemployment now (balance)	-1.4	7.6	-18.8	-4.3	-3.4	-1.5	=
C1 Favourability of time for purchasing durables (balance)	18.3	41.8	-14.2	20.1	24.5	24.4	+
C2 Favourability of time for saving (balance)	10.4	36.8	-19.6	7.4	6.1	9.4	=
C3 Favourability of time for raising a loan (balance)	17.3	42.0	-47.1	19.6	28.1	31.7	++
D2 Household's saving possibilities in the next 12 months (balance)	39.4	52.2	10.9	49.0	43.6	48.8	+

The balance figures are obtained by deducting the weighted proportion of negative answers from that of positive answers. The consumer confidence indicator is the average of the balance figures for the CCI components. The balance figures and the confidence indicator can range between -100 and +100 – the higher (positive) balance figure, the brighter the view on the economy.

Explanations for Outlook column: ++ Outlook is very good, + Outlook is good, = Outlook is neutral, - Outlook is poor, -- Outlook is very poor. Deviation of balance from average has been compared to standard deviation.

EU results

The (seasonally adjusted) Consumer Survey results for all EU countries are released on the European Commission website: European Commission, DG ECFIN, Business and Consumer Survey Results; http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/db_indicators/surveys/index_en.htm

Source: Consumer Survey 2016, August. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Pertti Kangassalo 029 551 3598, Tara Junes 029 551 3322, consumer.survey@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (431.3 kB)

Reviews

• 1. Method of the Consumer Survey (29.8.2016)

Tables

Tables in databases

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

• Database tables and their variables
• Archived tables

Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Consumers' views and intentions (29.8.2016)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Consumer confidence indicator (CCI) (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 2. Micro and macro indicators (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 3. Own economy (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 4. Finland's economy (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 5. Inflation (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 6. Unemployment (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 7. Favourability of time for (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 8. Household's financial situation and saving possibilities (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 9. Household's intentions to raise a loan, next 12 months (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure10. Spending on durables, next 12 months vs last 12 months (29.8.2016)
• Appendix figure 11. Household's intentions to buy, next 12 months (29.8.2016)

---

Updated 29.8.2016