Home > Statistics > Consumer Confidence > 2018 > December > Consumers have a steady financial situation and confidence in employment – intentions to spend money still moderate

Published: 27 December 2018

Consumers have a steady financial situation and confidence in employment – intentions to spend money still moderate

Correction 27 December 2018. Appendix table 1 has been completely corrected.

Consumers’ confidence in the economy has for a change weakened slightly. The consumer confidence indicator (CCI) stood at 16.1 in December whereas in November it was 18.3 and in October 16.8. Last year in December, the CCI received the value 24.0. The long-term average for the CCI is 12.7. The data are based on Statistics Finland’s Consumer Survey, for which 1,236 people resident in Finland were interviewed between 1 and 17 December.

Consumer confidence indicator (CCI)

Of the four components of the CCI, expectations concerning Finland’s economy and general unemployment development weakened in December compared with November. However, consumers’ estimates concerning unemployment development were still moderate, while the view of Finland's economy has turned pessimistic. Expectations concerning consumers’ own economy became slightly more cautious in December. In contrast, assessments about saving possibilities remained unchanged and very bright.

Confidence in one's own and especially in Finland’s economy and unemployment decreasing also darkened in December from last year’s corresponding period. In contrast, views on one’s own saving possibilities improved.

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

In December, consumers considered their household’s financial situation to be very good. Employed consumers felt that their personal threat of unemployment has decreased further in recent times. The time was regarded very favourable for saving but no longer for taking out a loan and buying durable goods. Intentions to spend money were mostly moderate before Christmas.

Consumer confidence by major region and population group

In December, consumers' confidence in the economy was strongest in Greater Helsinki (CCI 20.4) and weakest in Eastern Finland (13.4). Among population groups, upper-level salaried employees were clearly most optimistic (27.4). Pensioners (6.9) and unemployed persons (13.1) had the gloomiest expectations concerning economic development.

Prevalence of modern equipment in households in November

In November, 86 per cent of households with persons aged 15 to 84 had a home computer and 91 per cent had an Internet connection at their disposal. Fifty-eight per cent of households owned a tablet. Eighty-six per cent of households owned at least one smartphone and 27 per cent some type of wearable technology like an activity tracker, smartwatch or smartglasses.

Forty per cent of households were watching a smart TV in November. Twenty-eight per cent of households had a gaming console and some even a remote controlled camera drone. Eighty-two per cent of households owned a car in November.

More information about the prevalence of equipment can be found in Appendix figures 12 to 15 and in Database table 003. Studying the prevalence of equipment in connection with the Consumer Survey ended this year .

EU results

The (seasonally adjusted) Consumer Survey results for all EU countries are released monthly on the European Commission website: Press releases .

Concepts

The balance figures are obtained by deducting the weighted proportion of negative answers from that of positive answers (see Methodological description ). The consumer confidence indicator (CCI) is the average of the balance figures for the CCI components. The components are: own economy, Finland’s economy, general unemployment and household’s saving possibilities (all concerning next 12 months). 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.

Source: Consumer Survey 2018, December. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Pertti Kangassalo 029 551 3598, Tuomas Parikka 029 551 3276, consumer.survey@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (481.8 kB)

Reviews

• Review (27.12.2018)

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 (The appendix table was corrected on 27 December 2018) (27.12.2018)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Consumer confidence indicator (CCI) (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 2. Micro and macro indicators (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 3. Own economy (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 4. Finland's economy (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 5. Inflation (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 6. Unemployment (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 7. Favourability of time for (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 8. Household's financial situation and saving possibilities (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 9. Household's intentions to raise a loan, next 12 months (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure10. Spending on durables, next 12 months vs last 12 months (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 11. Household's intentions to buy, next 12 months (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 12. Prevalence of equipment and connections in households, November 2018 (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 13. Television equipment in households 2/2000 - 11/2018 (15 to 74-year-old target persons households) (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 14. Information technology in households 2/2000 - 11/2018 (15 to 74-year-old target persons households) (27.12.2018)
• Appendix figure 15. Telephones and car in households 2/2000 - 11/2018 (15 to 74-year-old target persons households) (27.12.2018)

---

Updated 27.12.2018