Netherlands: Consumer confidence declines in August
Sentiment levels among Dutch consumers retreated midway through the third quarter, likely influenced by lingering lockdown measures. Consumer confidence declined to minus 6 in August from minus 4 in July.
The downtick was driven by a deterioration in views on the general economic situation, and consumers’ willingness to buy. Attitudes towards the economic climate worsened on the back of less optimism regarding the economy in the year ahead; lingering uncertainty regarding the course of the pandemic likely played a part in this. Consumers’ willingness to buy fell into negative territory on the heels of more negative views on the financial situation of households in the past 12 months, and less upbeat views on households’ financial situation in the year ahead. Moreover, consumers consider the current time more unsuited to make major purchases.