Consumer confidence continues to wane in Finland in October

The balance figure of the Consumer Confidence Indicator (CCI) stood at minus 9.7 in October, having been minus 4.9 in September and minus 3.0 in August, according to Statistics Finland.

One year ago in October, the CCI received the value minus 7.6. The long-term average for the indicator since 1995 is minus 2.9.

In October, consumer confidence in the economy was highest in Greater Helsinki (CCI minus 3.0) and lowest in Northern Finland ( minus 13.4). Of the socio-economic groups, upper-level salaried employees were fairly optimistic (1.9). In October, unemployed persons (minus 21.2) and pensioners (minus 19.7) had very negative views about economic development.

Women's confidence in the economy (minus 13.5) was still clearly weaker in October than men's (minus 5.9).

In October, consumers' views concerning their own and especially Finland's economy weakened further.

Consumers' views on their own economy at present and their expectations concerning it in 12 months' time were very weak in October. Expectations concerning Finland's economy were also subdued.

Twenty-eight per cent of consumers thought in October that their own economy was worse at the time of the survey than one year ago. Slightly fewer or 22 per cent of consumers considered their own economy better than one year earlier.

As many as 61 per cent of consumers thought in October that Finland’s economic situation was now weaker than one year earlier, and only 13 per cent saw it as stronger.

In October, only one-fifth, 22 per cent of consumers expected that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 40 per cent of them assumed that our country’s economy would decline. In all, 26 per cent of consumers believed in October that their own economy would improve and 21 per cent of them feared it would weaken over the year.

Unemployment and its threat

Consumers' expectations concerning the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland was again slightly gloomier. Only 23 per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the next year, and nearly one half, 47 per cent believed it would increase.

In October, employed consumers reckoned that their personal threat of unemployment or temporary lay-off was still high. Only six per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and 29 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 35 per cent of employed persons felt in October that they were not threatened by unemployment at all.

Consumer prices

Consumers' already high estimates of the inflation at the time of the survey and concerning price changes in one year's time rose in October.

Consumers estimated in October that consumer prices have risen by 5.2 per cent from last year's October and would go up by 4.6 per cent over the next year.

Two-thirds of consumers, 66 per cent, thought that consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and as many as 70 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 October, the time was regarded even worse than before for taking out a loan and very unfavourable also for saving. Just 18 per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for taking out a loan and 36 per cent considered saving worthwhile. Despite the decrease, intentions to raise a loan were still on level with the long-term average in October. Sixteen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.

Consumers' estimates of their own financial situation fell slightly weaker than usual in October. At the same time, consumers estimated that they would have fewer saving possibilities than usual in the coming months. Fifty-five per cent of consumers had been able to lay aside some money and 66 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.

Spending and intentions to make large purchases

Views on the time being favourable for buying durable goods grew gloomier again in October. 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 decreased clearly in August. In October, 11 per cent of consumers estimated that they would increase and 40 per cent would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.

In October, the purchase of a car within a year was considered for a change by slightly fewer consumers than usual. There were clearly fewer plans to buy a dwelling than the long-term average. In addition, intentions to renovate one's dwelling were very low in October.

In October, 13 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a car during the next 12 months. Only 10 per cent of consumers considered buying a dwelling or building a house. Fourteen per cent of consumers were planning to spend money on renovating their dwelling during the next 12 months.

The data are based on the Consumer Confidence Survey, to which 1,171 persons resident in Finland responded between 1 and 18 October.