Consumer confidence, economic climate and willingness to buy

Consumer confidence, economic climate and willingness to buy

Periods Consumer confidence (average balance of the subquestions) Economic climate (average balance of the subquestions) Willingness to buy (average balance of the subquestions) Economic situation last 12 months (balance of positive and negative answers) Economic situation next 12 months (balance of positive and negative answers) Financial situation last 12 months (balance of positive and negative answers) Financial situation next 12 months (balance of positive and negative answers) Right time to make large purchases (balance of positive and negative answers)
2023 April -37 -48 -30 -73 -22 -35 -4 -51
2023 May -38 -53 -28 -75 -31 -31 -3 -50
2023 June -39 -54 -29 -74 -33 -32 -5 -51
2023 July -39 -54 -29 -73 -36 -30 -5 -52
2023 August -40 -56 -29 -75 -36 -29 -5 -54
2023 September -39 -57 -28 -76 -39 -29 -5 -49
2023 October -38 -56 -27 -74 -37 -30 -4 -46
2023 November -33 -47 -24 -66 -28 -28 -1 -42
2023 December -29 -41 -21 -62 -19 -24 2 -40
2024 January -28 -39 -20 -59 -20 -22 2 -39
2024 February -27 -41 -17 -56 -26 -16 2 -37
2024 March -22 -35 -14 -42 -27 -12 4 -33
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains the (seasonally) adjusted figures on opinions and expectations of Dutch consumers on general economic developments and their own financial situation. The indicators of consumer confidence, economic climate and willingness are based on these opinions and expectations. The consumer survey is partially financed by the European Commission.

Data available from:
April 1986

Status of the figures:
Figures up until December 2021 are final. Every February the figures of the months January until December of the previous two years are adjusted. As a result, the figures of the twelve months two years before February become final, the figures of twelve months of the year before February remain provisional for another year. Adjustments are usually modest.

Changes as of 20 March 2024.
The figures of March 2024 are added.

When will new figures be published?
New monthly figures will be published on 22 April 2024.

Description topics

Consumer confidence
Consumer confidence indicator



The consumer confidence indicator is the average of the (seasonally) adjusted balances of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the questions on the economic situation of the last and upcoming 12 months, the financial situation of the last and upcoming 12 months and whether now is the right time to make large purchases.



The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every balance is negative) and plus 100 (every balance is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists are equal.
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Economic climate
Consumer confidence indicator

The consumer confidence indicator is the average of the (seasonally) adjusted balances of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the questions on the economic situation of the last and upcoming 12 months.

The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every balance is negative) and plus 100 (every balance is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists are equal.
Willingness to buy
Willingness to buy indicator

The willingness to buy indicator is the average of the (seasonally) adjusted balances of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the questions on the financial situation of the last and upcoming 12 months and whether now is the right time to make large purchases.

The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every balance is negative) and plus 100 (every balance is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists are equal.
Economic situation last 12 months
The (seasonally adjusted) balance of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the question: How do you think the general economic situation in the country has changed over the past 12 months?
The balance is adjusted for seasonal effects and statistical noise, making use of the information of the entire length of the time series. The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every answer is negative) and plus 100 (every answer is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists is equal.

Economic situation next 12 months
The (seasonally adjusted) balance of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the question: How do you expect the general economic situation in this country to develop over the next 12 months?
The balance is adjusted for seasonal effects and statistical noise, making use of the information of the entire length of the time series. The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every answer is negative) and plus 100 (every answer is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists is equal.

Financial situation last 12 months
The (seasonally adjusted) balance of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the question: How has the financial situation of your household changed over the last 12 months?
The balance is adjusted for seasonal effects and statistical noise, making use of the information of the entire length of the time series. The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every answer is negative) and plus 100 (every answer is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists is equal.

Financial situation next 12 months
The (seasonally adjusted) balance of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the question: How do you expect the financial position of your household to change over the next 12 months?
The balance is adjusted for seasonal effects and statistical noise, making use of the information of the entire length of the time series. The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every answer is negative) and plus 100 (every answer is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists is equal.

Right time to make large purchases
The (seasonally adjusted) balance of positive and negative answering options, measured as percentage points of the total answers to the question: In view of the general economic situation, do you think that now it is the right moment for people to make major purchases such as furniture, electrical/electronic devices, etc.? The balance is adjusted for seasonal effects and statistical noise, making use of the information of the entire length of the time series. The indicator has a range between minus 100 (every answer is negative) and plus 100 (every answer is positive). If the indicator has a value of zero, the shares of optimists and pessimists is equal.