Netherlands: Consumer sentiment stays pessimistic in March
At the close of the first quarter, consumer confidence was stable at February’s minus 2. While highlighting lingering pessimism among Dutch households, as the index remained below the neutral zero-mark, the print came in above the long-term average of minus 5.
The headline figure reflected worsening attitudes regarding the economic climate over the next 12 months, likely linked to the coronavirus wreaking havoc across Europe. This was offset by a greater willingness to buy, as households grew more optimistic about their financial situation and consumers considered the current situation to be more suited to purchase big-ticket items.