Consumer confidence; 1972-2016
Explanation of symbols
Dataset is not available.
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.
- Subquestions: consumer confidence
- Economic situation last 12 months
- Do you think that the general economic situation in our country has
improved, deteriorated or remained the same during the last twelve months?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Economic situation next 12 months
- What is your opinion on the next twelve months? Will the general
economic situation in the Netherlands improve, deteriorate or remain the
same?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Financial situation last 12 months
- In your opinion, has the financial situation of your household improved,
deteriorated or remained the same during the last twelve months?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Financial situation next 12 months
- What do you expect of the financial situation of your own household?
Will it improve, deteriorate or remain the same in the next twelve
months?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Right time to make large purchases
- Do you think it is the right or wrong time, or neither, to make large
purchases like furniture, a washing machine or a television set?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- 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.
- Subquestions: consumer confidence
- Economic situation last 12 months
- Do you think that the general economic situation in our country has
improved, deteriorated or remained the same during the last twelve months?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Economic situation next 12 months
- What is your opinion on the next twelve months? Will the general
economic situation in the Netherlands improve, deteriorate or remain the
same?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Financial situation last 12 months
- In your opinion, has the financial situation of the household improved,
deteriorated or remained the same during the last twelve months?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Financial situation next 12 months
- What do you expect of the financial situation of your own household?
Will it improve, deteriorate or remain the same during the next twelve
months?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).
- Right time to make large purchases
- Do you think it is the right or wrong time, or neither, to make large
purchases like furniture, a washing machine or a television set?
(balance of positive and negative answers as a percentage).