Netherlands: Consumer confidence continues to improve in April
Sentiment among Dutch consumers continued to improve at the outset of the second quarter of this year. In April, consumer confidence edged up from 24 in March to 25. The print reflected the highest reading since December of last year, and the indicator remained well-anchored above the crucial zero-point mark that separates optimism from pessimism among households. Moreover, the print was also well above the long-term average of minus 3 over the last 20 years. Consumer sentiment has been positive since February 2015.
A breakdown of the result showed a sufficiently broad-based improvement in sentiment. All but one sub-component recorded a higher reading in April compared to the prior month. Consumers’ view on the country’s economic climate improved on the back of a more favorable assessment of their economic situation in the past 12 months. Their view on the economy in the next 12 months was unchanged. Moreover, consumers’ willingness to buy edged up as their opinion on their financial situations in the past 12 months and the next 12 months improved. More consumers also considered the current climate to be more favorable to making major purchases.