Consumer confidence improves slightly in Europe

In the third quarter, European consumer confidence as measured by the Nielsen Consumer Confidence Index has recovered two points, climbing back to the level recorded in previous years. However, Europe is still lagging behind the rest of the world, with a consumer confidence index measured at 81.

The figure is based on the perceptions of employment prospects and of the economic situation, on personal finances and on consumers' short-term expenditure plans. With a score of 81, Europe ranked behind Asia-Pacific (109), North America (105), Africa and the Middle East (87) and Latin America (83).

"Consumer confidence has improved this quarter in 26 of the 34 European countries surveyed, with scores ranging from 50 in the Ukraine up to 107 in Denmark," stated Nielsen, pointing out how consumer confidence has increased in 4 out of the 5 major economies in the region: it grew by 4 points in Germany (100), by 8 points in the UK (106), by 3 points in France (69) and by 2 points in Italy (57). Confidence in Spain instead fell by 3 points (77).

The survey also highlighted a welcome improvement in some indicators, with the employment situation up 3 points (32%), the perception of the consumers' personal financial situation up 1 point (42%) and short-term expenditure plans up 1 point (34%). Terrorism still remained one of the two main concerns for 29% of respondents (+5 points).

"This concern is at its highest in Turkey (59%), in France (48%, +8 points in one quarter and +22 points in a year), in Germany (44%, +11 points), in Switzerland (40%, +6 points), and in Belgium(38%, +7 points)," stated Nielsen.

Consumer confidence improves slightly in Europe

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