5 January 2010
2010- n° 1In December, consumers are less confident about their future economic situation Monthly consumer confidence survey - December 2009
In December 2009, the seasonally adjusted summary consumer confidence indicator decreased for the first time in four months (–1 point)*. The indicator which was recovering since 2008 from a historically low confidence, remains close to slack levels of the last 15 years (1995, 1996 or 2005).
In December 2009, the seasonally adjusted summary consumer confidence indicator decreased for the first time in four months (–1 point)*. The indicator which was recovering since 2008 from a historically low confidence, remains close to slack levels of the last 15 years (1995, 1996 or 2005).
Confidence indicator components: pessimism about the future
In December, households appreciation of past general economic situation was stable, but the expected situation declined (-2 points). Households were also more pessimistic about their expected personal financial situation ( –2 points), while their appreciation of their past personnal financial situation went up (+2 points). The balance on the current environment for major purchases also decreased (–1 point).
graphiqueGraph1_english – Summary consumer confidence indicator
Other balances
Concerns about future unemployment slowly diminish
In December, households expectations about unemployment decreased by 1 point. Concerns about future unemployment are brought back to levels already reached on average in 2003.
Inflation’s appreciation steadily low
In December, perception of past inflation slightly increased and expected inflation went up (+3 points), getting closer to its average value.
Financial situation and savings
Households’ opinion about their current financial situation remained higher than its long term value but lost 1 point.
Households believed that their capacity to save improved (+2 points). But, even if it is higher than its long term value, their saving intentions remained lower than its average value and lost 3 points.
tableauenglish_tempo – Consumer opinion
| 2009 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average* | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |
| Summary indicator | –18 | –35 | –34 | –30 | –31 |
| Financial situation, past 12 months | –17 | –25 | –24 | –22 | –20 |
| Financial situation, next 12 months | –1 | –11 | –12 | –8 | –10 |
| General economic situation, past 12 months | –39 | –72 | –70 | –66 | –66 |
| General economic situation, next 12 months | –20 | –41 | –40 | –36 | –37 |
| Major purchases intentions, next 12 months | –13 | –27 | –24 | –19 | –20 |
- * average value since 1987
graphiquechomage_en – Households' unemployment expectations
graphiqueprix_en – Households' perception of prices
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