Statistics Netherlands
Press release
PB04-080
25 May 2004
9:30 AM
Consumer confidence decreases slightly
The seasonally corrected figure for Dutch consumer confidence in May 2004
reached -28. This is 3 points lower than in April, but much higher than a year
ago. Consumers were more negative about the economic situation than last
month. The willingness of consumers to buy remained the same, according to
the economic survey among consumers conducted by Statistics Netherlands.
More negative opinions about the economic climate
The seasonally corrected figures regarding consumer opinions on the
economic climate were more negative in May than in April. On balance there
are 39 percent more pessimists than optimists in May versus 33 percent in
April. After a substantial increase in February consumer confidence in the
economic climate has fallen again over the last three months.
Consumers were more negative about the economic situation in the next
twelve months in particular. Consumers were also more negative about the
economic situation in the past twelve months, but not to the same extent.
Willingness to buy unchanged
www.cbs.nl
The seasonally corrected figures for willingness to buy remained the same on
balance in May as in April. Willingness to buy is based on the opinions
consumers express about the financial situation of their own households and
the about the question if this is a good time for major purchases. In May
consumers were more negative than in April about major purchases such as
furniture and televisions. Their opinions about this have developed
capriciously in recent months, making it difficult to draw conclusions.
The opinions consumers expressed about the financial situation of their own
households over the last twelve months is somewhat less negative. Little has
changed about the financial situation about the next twelve months, although
there are still slightly more pessimists than optimists.
.
Statistics Netherlands Press release PB04-080
page 1 of 4
Table 1: Consumer confidence, opinions on economic climate,
willingness to buy: balance of positive and negative answers (seasonally
corrected figures)
2003
2004
November December January February March April
Ma
y
Consumer
confidence
-31
-28
-32
-22
-26
-25 -28
Opinion
economic
climate
-43
-43
-47
-27
-32
-33 -39
Economic
climate previous
year
-73
-72
-81
-59
-58
-60 -63
Economic
climate next
year
-12
-15
-13
4
-6
-5 -15
Willingness to
buy
-23
-19
-22
-19
-22
-20 -20
Financial
situation previous
year
-30
-24
-26
-26
-26
-27 -21
-7
-7
-11
-1
-2
-31
-25
-29
-30
-38
Financial
situation
next year
Good time for
major purchases
-3
-2
-31 -37
Source: CBS
Statistics Netherlands Press release PB04-080
page 2 of 4
Table 2: Consumer confidence, opinions on economic climate,
willingness to buy: balance of positive and negative answers (original
series)
2003
2004
November December January February March April
Ma
y
Consumer
confidence
-32
-31
-30
-22
-26
-26 -26
Opinion
economic
climate
-44
-44
-43
-27
-33
-36 -37
Economic
climate previous
year
-74
-73
-75
-58
-60
-63 -63
Economic
climate next
year
-15
-15
-11
5
-6
-8 -11
Willingness to
buy
-24
-22
-21
-18
-22
-20 -19
Financial
situation previous
year
-31
-24
-25
-23
-25
-26 -22
-8
-5
-11
-2
-3
-33
-37
-29
-30
-36
Financial
situation
next year
Good time for
major purchases
-2
-1
-31 -36
Source: CBS
Graph 1: Consumer confidence according to CBS and European
Commission definitions (seasonally corrected figures)
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Consumentenvertrouwen (definitie CBS)
Consumentenvertrouwen (definitie EC)
Source: CBS, European Commission
Statistics Netherlands Press release PB04-080
page 3 of 4
Statistics Netherlands Press release PB04-080
page 4 of 4