Consumer confidence; 1972-2016

Consumer confidence; 1972-2016

Periods Consumer confidence Original series Indicator: consumer confidence (Average pos. minus neg. responses) Consumer confidence Seasonally adjusted series Indicator: consumer confidence (Average pos. minus neg. responses) Economic climate Original series Indicator: economic climate (Average pos. minus neg. responses) Economic climate Seasonally adjusted series Indicator: economic climate (Average pos. minus neg. responses) Willingness to buy Original series Indicator: willingness to buy (Average pos. minus neg. responses) Willingness to buy Seasonally adjusted series Indicator: willingness to buy (Average pos. minus neg. responses)
2016 1st quarter 1 . 3 . 0 .
2016 April 2 1 7 5 -1 -1
2016 May 2 1 8 5 -2 -1
2016 June 6 5 14 13 1 0
2016 2nd quarter 3 . 9 . -1 .
2016 July 2 1 5 4 0 -1
2016 August 4 3 11 9 0 -1
2016 September 8 8 17 18 2 2
2016 3rd quarter 5 . 11 . 0 .
2016 October 10 12 17 20 4 7
2016 November 10 12 21 23 3 5
2016 December 10 12 20 23 3 5
2016 4th quarter 10 . 20 . 3 .
2016 5 . 11 . 1 .
2017 January 16 13 31 28 6 3
2017 February 15 14 27 29 6 4
2017 March 17 16 32 33 6 6
2017 1st quarter 16 . 24 . 4 .
Source: CBS
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table provides data on consumers' attitudes and expectations towards the economic climate and their own financial situation. This data is the input for the indicators on Consumer confidence, Economic climate and Willingness to purchase. Data on consumers' attitude and expectations on Unemployment and Prices are also included. The Dutch 'Consumer survey' is partially financed by the European Commission.

Data available from: May 1972

Status of the figures:
The figures in this table are final.

Changes as of September 21th 2017:
Non, this table has been discontinued.

When will new figures be published?
New figures are published in two new tables, see paragraph 3. This table will not be updated anymore.

Description topics

Consumer confidence
Consumer confidence is the balance of positive and negative replies as a
percentage of the total, per month.
The consumer confidence survey provides information on confidence and
expectations of consumers regarding the developments of the economic
situation in the Netherlands. Each month the consumer confidence survey
asks approximately one thousand respondents five
questions concerning the economic situation in general and their own
personal financial situation. Positive and negative answers are possible.
Subsequently, the number of positive and negative answers to each of the
questions are totalled. The consumer confidence indicator gives a fairly
accurate picture of future developments in consumption expenditure,
particularly expenditure on durable consumer goods. In addition to the
original figures, seasonally adjusted figures are available. Consumer
confidence is also surveyed in the US and the other member states of the
EU. International data are published by the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.
Original series
The original series includes monthly, quarterly as well as annual figures.
Indicator: consumer confidence
Consumer confidence is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.
Seasonally adjusted series
The seasonally adjusted series contains only monthly data. Consumers
are generally slightly more optimistic in spring and summer than in
the rest of the year. In order to provide a proper understanding of
the notion of consumer confidence (or parts of it), series are
calculated in which the seasonal pattern has been eliminated. As a
result of this seasonal adjustment, the figures of consecutive months can
be compared more accurately.
The seasonal adjustment is implemented each year in January.
Because of this the most recent results may vary from those in earlier
publications.
Indicator: consumer confidence
Consumer confidence is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.
Economic climate
Economic climate is the balance of positive and negative answers as a
percentage of the total, per month. Economic climate is a component
indicator of consumer confidence.
In the consumer confidence survey approximately one thousand
respondents asked two questions regarding the economic
situation in general.
Subsequently, the balance of positive and negative answers as a
percentage of the total number of answers to each question is established.
The economic climate is the arithmetic average of the two balances.
Original series
The original series includes monthly, quarterly as well as annual figures.
Indicator: economic climate
Economic climate is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into the
response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse' (henceforth: Pn)
are aggregated (unweighted).
The economic climate index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to two subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.
Seasonally adjusted series
The seasonally adjusted series contains only monthly data. Consumers
are generally slightly more optimistic in spring and summer than in
the rest of the year. In order to provide a proper understanding of
the notion of consumer confidence (or parts of it), series are
calculated in which the seasonal pattern has been eliminated. As a
result of this seasonal adjustment, the figures of consecutive months can
be compared more accurately.
The seasonal adjustment is implemented each year in January.
Because of this the most recent results may vary from those in earlier
publications.
Indicator: economic climate
Economic climate is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into the response
categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better' (henceforth: Pp) and
the percentage falling into the response categories 'slightly worse' and
'clearly worse' (henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The economic climate index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to two subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.
Willingness to buy
Willingness to buy is the balance of positive and negative replies as
a percentage of the total, per month. Willingness to buy is a
component indicator of consumer confidence.
Each month the Consumer Confidence Survey asks approximately one thousand
respondents two questions concerning their own financial situation.
Additionally, the consumer is asked whether he considers it the right
time to make large purchases.
The balance of positive and negative answers as a
percentage of the total number of answers to each question is established.
Willingness to buy is the arithmetic average of the three balances and a
fair indicator of consumer expenditure on durables.
Original series
The original series includes monthly, quarterly as well as annual figures.
Indicator: willingness to buy
Willingness to buy is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.
Seasonally adjusted series
The seasonally adjusted series contains only monthly data. Consumers
are generally slightly more optimistic in spring and summer than in
the rest of the year. In order to provide a proper understanding of
the notion of consumer confidence (or parts of it), series are
calculated in which the seasonal pattern has been eliminated. As a
result of this seasonal adjustment, the figures of consecutive months can
be compared more accurately.
The seasonal adjustment is implemented each year in January.
Because of this the most recent results may vary from those in earlier
publications.
Indicator: willingness to buy
Willingness to buy is calculated as follows:
the first step in calculating the index is to convert the frequency
distribution of the scores for each question into a percentage
distribution.
Subsequently, for each question, the percentage falling into
the response categories 'clearly better' and 'slightly better'
(henceforth: Pp) and the percentage falling into
the response categories 'slightly worse' and 'clearly worse'
(henceforth: Pn) are aggregated (unweighted).
The consumer confidence index is the average of the balances
of the positive (Pp) and negative (Pn) replies to five subquestions,
expressed as a percentage.
The indicator ranges from -100 to +100. If the value of the
indicator is zero, the number of pessimists and optimists is the same.
Thus, neutral answers and the response category 'do not know' are not
taken into account.