The balance figure of the consumer confidence indicator (CCI) stood at minus 12.5 in April, having been minus 11.5 in March and minus 10.5 in February, according to Statistics Finland.
One year ago in April, the CCI received the value minus 7.4. The long-term average for the CCI is minus 2.9.
The data are based on Statistics Finland’s Consumer Confidence Survey, to which 1,117 persons resident in Finland responded between April 1 and April 19.
In April, confidence in the economy was very weak all over the country. Consumer confidence was at its highest in Southern Finland outside Greater Helsinki (CCI minus 9.9) and lowest in Northern Finland (minus 15.2).
Of the socio-economic groups, upper-level salaried employees were least pessimistic ( minus 2.3). In April, unemployed persons (minus 20.9) and pensioners ( minus 20.8) had very negative views about economic development.
Women (minus 15.1) still described economic development in April as clearly gloomier than men did (minus 10.0).
Consumers’ own and Finland’s economy
In April, consumers’ image of the entire economy weakened slightly compared to March. Compared to one year ago, views on the economy grew more clearly gloomier.
Views concerning consumers’ own economy at present and expectations concerning their own and Finland’s economy in 12 months’ time were on a very low level in April.
Twenty-eight per cent of consumers thought in April that their own economy was worse at the time of the survey than one year ago.
Only 19 per cent of consumers considered their own economy better than one year earlier. As many as 76 per cent of consumers thought in April that Finland’s economic situation was now weaker than one year earlier, and only four per cent saw it as stronger.
Only 14 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while nearly one half or 47 per cent of them thought that our country’s economy would decline. In all, 25 per cent of consumers believed in April that their own economy would improve and more than before, 23 per cent, feared it would worsen over the year.
Unemployment and its threat
Consumers’ expectations concerning the development of the general unemployment situation in Finland stayed unchanged and fairly gloomy in April. Only 13 per cent of consumers expected that unemployment would decrease over the next year, and over one half, 58 per cent, believed it would increase.
Employed consumers reckoned in April that their personal threat of unemployment or lay-off was still very high. Four per cent of employed persons believed that their personal threat had lessened and 28 per cent thought the risk had grown. On the other hand, 37 per cent of employed persons felt in April that they were not threatened by unemployment or temporary lay-off at all.
Consumer prices
Consumers’ estimated of the inflation at the time of the survey and concerning price changes in one year’s time rose ever higher in April.
They estimated that consumer prices have risen by 4.9 per cent from April last year and would go up by 4.4 per cent over the next year.
Altogether 60 per cent of consumers thought that consumer prices have risen much or fairly much over the year, and as many as 71 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 April, the time was regarded even worse than before for taking out a loan and also for saving. Just 19 per cent of consumers regarded the time favourable for taking out a loan and 38 per cent considered saving worthwhile. Still, slightly more consumers than usual were planning to take out a loan in April. Seventeen per cent of consumers were planning to raise a loan within one year.
Consumers’ assessments of their own financial situation were slightly weaker in April than the long-term average.
Consumers estimated that they would also have slightly fewer saving possibilities than usual in the coming months. In April, good one half or 54 per cent of consumers had been able to lay aside some money and 70 per cent believed they would be able to do so during the next 12 months.
Spending and intentions to make large purchases
In April, the time was regarded very unfavourable for buying durable goods. Only 13 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 stayed low in April. In April, 12 per cent of consumers estimated that they would increase and 39 per cent would reduce their spending on durable goods over the next 12 months.
In April, slightly fewer consumers than the long-term average considered buying a car within one year. Consumers’ intentions to buy a dwelling were now lowest since May 1999. Consumers were also planning to renovate their dwelling less than usual in April.
In April, 14 per cent of consumers were either definitely or possibly going to buy a car during the next 12 months. Only ten 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.
