Banque nationale de Belgique : Press release - Consumer confidence indicator (2022-01)PDF

2022-01-21

Links:	Infographics	NBB.Stat	General information

Monthly consumer survey - January 2022

January brings slight rebound in consumer confidence

• The fall in the indicator that began last October has come to a halt.
• The improvement in confidence stems from the more favourable outlook for the economic situation in general and the trend in unemployment in particular.

For the first time in several months, consumers appeared more optimistic about the general economic situation expected over the next twelve months. Fears of a rise in unemployment have waned, after households had voiced concern about this in the last two months' surveys.

By contrast, the outlook on the personal front has deteriorated both as regards households' financial situation and their savings intentions.

Consumer confidence indicators1

			Expectations for the next twelve months				Consumer
		Economic situation		Unemployment in		Financial situation		Savings of		confidence
		in Belgium		Belgium2		of households		households		indicator
2021	January	-5	54	4	17	-10
	February	-4	48	2	13	-9
	March	2	37	2	18	-4
	April	-2	43	2	20	-6
	May	9	21	1	25	4
	June	19	13	4	24	8
	July	19	11	2	23	8
	August	5	8	0	21	5
	September	10	2	2	21	8
	October	0	-3	-3	16	4
	November	-7	0	-3	15	1
	December	-16	12	0	12	-4
2022	January	-12	6	-3	10	-2

1. As of February 2020, the survey sample has been adapted to better reflect the socio-demographic characteristics of the population. In line with the European Commission's recommendations, this change is being introduced only gradually, so as not to interfere too much with the information content of the indicator.
2. Regarding unemployment expectations, a rise indicates a deterioration while a decline indicates an improvement.

Source: National Bank of Belgium.

Communication	boulevard de Berlaimont 14	phone + 32 2 221 46 28	Company's number: 0203.201.340
National Bank of Belgium Ltd.	BE-1000 BRUSSELS	www.nbb.be	RLP Brussels

JANUARY 2022

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDICATOR

15
						long-term
5						average
					1990 - 2021
-5
-15
-25
-35
2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022

Expectations for the next twelve months

General economic situation in Belgium

Unemployment in Belgium¹

40
20
0
-20
-40
-60
2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022

80
60
40
20
0
-20
2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022

Financial situation of households

20
10
0
-10
-20
2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022

Savings of households

30
20
10
0
-10
-20
2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022

¹ Regarding unemployment expectations, a rise indicates a deterioration while a decline indicates an improvement.

Communication	boulevard de Berlaimont 14	phone + 32 2 221 46 28	Company's number:
National Bank of Belgium Ltd.	BE-1000 BRUSSELS	www.nbb.be	0203.201.340 - RLP Brussels