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
- 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.
- Subquestions: willingness to buy
- 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).
- 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.
- Subquestions: willingness to buy
- 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).
- Consumers' attitudes and expectations
- Consumers' attitudes and expectations towards various aspects of the
economic situation in the Netherlands and the personal financial
situation.- Buy or build a house next 2 years
- Do you expect to buy a house or have a house built in the next two years?
- Total buy or build a house next 2 years
- Certainly
- Maybe
- Probably not
- Certainly not
- Do not know