Consumer confidence rose in the Netherlands in November, however the confidence indicator still remains in negative territory, new data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) has found.
According to CBS, the confidence indicator rose from -27 in October to -21 in November, which was the strongest month-on-month increase in nearly four-and-a-half years.
Below the long-term average
Despite the increase, which was driven by improved opinions regarding the economic climate, the confidence indicator remains well below the long-term average for the previous 20 years, of -10, although it is markedly above the all-time low of -59, which was recorded in September and October 2022.
As the latest confidence indicator showed, consumers were less pessimistic about the overall economy than they were in October, with this component rising from -46 to -34.
Willingness to buy
Willingness to buy was also up, from -14 to -12, with consumers more positive about their personal financial situation over the next 12 months, and less negative about their financial situation over the previous 12 months, the data showed.
‘Consumers were also less negative about making large purchases in November than they were in October,’ CBS noted, with the sentiment around major purchases improving from -30 to -27.
Future expectations about willingness to buy also increased, and were the only metric in positive territory, rising from 2 to 5.
Historical data shows that consumer confidence in the Netherlands has fluctuated widely in recent years. After reaching all-time lows in 2022, the indicator moved gradually upward through 2023 and early 2024 before declining again in early 2025.
The confidence indicator has been tracked on a month-on-month basis since 1986, and is based on responses to five survey questions that measure sentiment on the economy and household finances. The indicator reached an all-time high of 36 in January 2000. Read more here.
