Consumers less negative in June

The sentiment among consumers in the Netherlands in June has improved, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Consumer confidence stood at -39 in June, up from -46 in May. That is the biggest improvement in over eleven years, but consumer confidence remains well below its long-term average for the previous twenty years of -11. Two months ago, in April, confidence recorded the second-largest drop (-14) ever.

The indicator reached its all-time high (36) in January 2000, while the all-time low (-59) was in September and October 2022. Consumer confidence is assessed using five questions about the economic climate and the personal financial outlook, where the balance of positive and negative responses is taken from each question. If all consumers are positive, the balance is 100. If all consumers are negative, the balance is -100.

Consumers less negative about the economic climate

Consumers were less negative about the economy in June than they were in May. This component of the indicator rose from -72 to -64. In June 2026, consumers were both less negative about the economic outlook for the next twelve months and about the economic situation over the past twelve months.

Biggest improvement in willingness to buy ever

In June, willingness to buy was -22, up from -28 in May. That is the biggest improvement since the start of the series, but willingness to buy is still well below its long-term average for the previous twenty years of -9. In particular, consumers were less negative about their financial outlook for the next twelve months, but they were also less negative about their personal financial outlook over the previous twelve months. Consumers were also slightly less negative about making large purchases in June than they were in May.