Consumer confidence deteriorated further in the Netherlands in May, with the confidence index standing at -46 for the month, down from -44 in April, according to new data from Statistics Netherlands.
As the data showed, Dutch households have become more cautious about spending and personal finances amid growing economic uncertainty – the current confidence index is well below the long-term average of -11 and on a par with the lows seen during the 2022 energy crisis.
The indicator reached its all-time high (36) in January 2000, while the all-time low (-59) was recorded in September and October 2022.
Ongoing pessimism
The economic climate indicator held steady at -72 in May, reflecting ongoing pessimism about both recent economic performance and the broader outlook.
While consumers were marginally less negative about the economy over the next twelve months, they became more pessimistic about economic conditions over the past year, Statistics Netherlands noted.
The main driver behind May’s decline was a worsening of willingness to buy, which fell from -26 to -28. Consumers reported increased concern about their own financial situation, both retrospectively and looking ahead, while sentiment around making major purchases such as furniture or appliances also weakened further.
The component measuring whether it is a good time to buy consumer durables dropped to -45 in May from -43 in April, underlining continued caution among households as inflationary pressures and energy costs remain elevated across Europe.
Sentiment declining
Statistics Netherlands’ data also highlights how sharply sentiment has weakened in recent months.
After a gradual recovery through much of 2024 and late 2025, confidence has reversed course rapidly since the start of 2026, coinciding with renewed inflation concerns and higher energy prices linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the statistics body noted. Read more here.
