Intention to draw loan rises as consumer confidence remains weak

The balance figure of the Consumer Confidence Indicator (CCI) stood at minus 7.6 in August, having been minus 6.4 in July and minus 8.6 in June, according to Statistics Finland.

One year ago in August, the consumer confidence indicator received the value minus 7.2. The long-term average for the CCI is minus 2.7.

The data are based on the Consumer Confidence Survey, to which 1,236 persons resident in Finland responded between 1 and 18 August.

In August, consumer confidence in the economy was strongest in Greater Helsinki (minus 3.9) and weakest in Eastern Finland (minus11.1).

Of the socio-economic groups, upper-level salaried employees were clearly most optimistic (2.5). Pensioners had the gloomiest expectations concerning economic development in August (minus 15.9).

Women (minus 9.9) still described economic development in August as clearly gloomier than men did (minus 5.3).

Consumers' estimates of their own economy at present improved slightly in August compared to July but were still subdued.

Consumers' expectations concerning their own economy in 12 months' time remained unchanged and cautious. Views on Finland's economic development weakened and were on a gloomy level in August.

Compared to one year ago, consumers' sentiments about their own economy improved slightly in August, while expectations concerning Finland's economy grew gloomier.

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.

Nearly as many, 24 per cent, considered their own economy better than one year earlier.

Sixty-six per cent of consumers thought in August that Finland’s economic situation was now weaker than one year earlier, and only eight per cent saw it as stronger.

In August, just 18 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while as many as 42 per cent of them reckoned that our country’s economy would decline.

In all, 28 per cent of consumers believed in August that their own economy would improve and 17 per cent of them feared it would weaken over the year.

Consumers' expectations concerning the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland stayed pessimistic in August.

Only 14 per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the next year, and over one half, 59 per cent believed it would increase.

Employed consumers, that is, wage and salary earners and self-employed persons, reckoned in August that their personal threat of unemployment or lay-off was fairly high.

Five per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and 27 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 39 per cent of employed persons felt in August that they were not threatened by unemployment or temporary lay-off at all.

In August, consumers' estimates of the inflation at the time of the survey and concerning price changes in one year's time were slightly falling but still high.

Consumers estimated in August that consumer prices have risen by 4.8 per cent from August last year and would go up by 3.8 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 53 per cent of them expected prices to rise at least at the same rate over the coming months as well.

In August, the time was regarded very poor for taking out a loan and unfavourable also for saving.

Thirty per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for taking out a loan and 43 per cent considered saving worthwhile.

However, there were clearly more intentions than usual to raise a loan in August. Eighteen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.

Consumers' assessments of their own financial situation were in August slightly brighter than the long-term average.

Consumers estimated that their saving possibilities would be similar to usual in the coming months. Fifty-nine per cent of households had been able to lay aside some money and 72 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.

In August, the time was again regarded very unfavourable for buying durable goods. Only 12 per cent of consumers thought the time was favourable for making expensive purchases.

Consumers’ intentions to spend money on durable goods in the next 12 months were fairly low in August. In August, 14 per cent of consumers estimated that they would increase and 38 per cent would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.

In August, as many consumers as the long-term average considered buying a car within one year. By contrast, consumers still had slightly fewer plans than usual to buy a dwelling and also to renovate their own dwelling.

As many as 14 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a car within the next 12 months.

Twelve per cent of consumers considered buying a dwelling or building a house. Sixteen per cent of consumers were planning to spend money on renovating their dwelling during the next 12 months.