HELSINKI: The consumer confidence indicator (CCI) stood at 9.8 in April, having been 10.4 in March and 7.7 in February. Last year in April, the CCI received the value 11.4 while the long-term average for the CCI is 11.6, according to the data based on Statistics Finland’s Consumer Survey. A total of 1,255 people resident in Finland were interviewed between 1 and 19 April for the survey. Consumers’ expectations concerning their own and Finland’s economy improved slightly in April from March.
In contrast, views concerning general unemployment development and own saving possibilities weakened. In April, consumers’ views on unemployment were fairly gloomy and on the other three components of the CCI on the long term average level, the survey finds Consumers regarded the time favourable for taking out a loan and a little also for buying durable goods but not for saving.
Employed consumers also felt that the threat of unemployment decreased in April compared with the previous month. In April, 35 per cent of consumers believed that Finland’s economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 24 per cent of them thought that the country’s economy would deteriorate.
The corresponding proportions were 36 and 26 per cent in March and 33 and 21 per cent one year ago in April. In all, 28 per cent of consumers believed in April that their own economy would improve, while 15 per cent of them feared it would worsen over the year.
