HELSINKI: Finns are concerned about the economy and their own ability to cope with mounting bills, finds a study carried out recently by Nielsen.
Unemployment, however, is not as big a concern in Finland as it is in the European Union on an average. Unemployment is either the biggest or second biggest concern for nearly one-fourth of people in the European Union, while only one-eighth of Finns admitted to being concerned about unemployment in the study. Finns’ confidence in the economy has improved marginally, with the consumer confidence index rising from 61 to 63 over the first three months of the year, according to the global market research firm. A reading of 99 points or less indicates pessimism in the economy.
Regardless, consumer confidence remains considerably lower in Finland than elsewhere in the Nordic countries, with the index standing at 106 for Denmark, at 87 for Sweden and at 85 for Norway. Overall, Finland was ranked 51st among the 60 countries incorporated in the study. The highest consumer confidence index reading was recorded in India (130) and the lowest reading in Ukraine (41).
