NOVEMBER 2009
Consumer Confidence recorded the strongest increase since 2007, up four points to -30 as the index major components, with no exception, improved significantly: on their personal financial situation over the past twelve months, households expressed strong improvement as the index rose three points to -22, and similarly on their personal financial situation over the next twelve months, up four points to -8. Regarding their standard of living over the past twelve months, households acknowledged betterment as the index rose four points and equally over the next twelve months at -35.
The opportunity to make significant purchases climbed back the most to -19 as subdued inflation and periods of sales allowed for an optimistic tone. At the more detailed level, and as regards personal financial situation, households showed assurance, with the index gaining five points at 18. Households savings capacity over the next twelve months reflected however the necessity to anticipate on dire times, up at a record high 15 points, although fear of unemployment slightly improved, up three points at 62. On price trends over the past twelve months, households noted a certain stability but remained prudent over the next twelve months, with the index gaining one point at -47.
DECEMBER 2009
Consumer Confidence dipped one point to -31, back to May levels, following the previous month record increase, as households assurance about their personal financial situation over the next twelve months, retrograded two points to -10. As regards their personal financial situation over the past twelve months however, households acknowledged some degree of improvement, up two points at -20, due to historical low inflation. Despite the severe economic downturn, households’ perception of their standard of living over the past twelve months remained unchanged, at -66. Over the next twelve months, households expressed pessimism, although mild, with the index down one point at -37. The opportunity to make significant purchases, dropped also one point at -20 and rated seven points below a long term average of -13. Households current personal financial situation fared similarly to most indices, down one point at -17, while their savings capacity over the next twelve months slightly bettered up two points at -6 despite a historical high savings rate of 17% of disposal income after tax. Consequently, households savings capacity at present, fell three points at 11. On unemployment over the next twelve months, households’ concerns declined a modest point to 61.
Regarding price trends over the past twelve months, and despite record low inflation, households pushed the index down one point, to -26 while over the next twelve months, households’ pessimism sent the index up three points to -43.
