Belgian consumer confidence – an economic indicator that measures the degree of optimism that consumers have regarding the overall state of a country's economy and their own financial situations – is falling in January, according to the National Bank of Belgium (NBB).
The loss of confidence is mainly due to a worsening outlook for the general economic situation. Households are also slightly less optimistic about their own financial situation going forward, the results of a monthly NBB survey showed.
While the indicator stood at 0 in December 2023, it has now dropped to -2, according to the NBB. Still, the indicator remains above its long-term average.
After last month's rebound, household expectations for the general economic situation in Belgium deteriorated significantly. On the other hand, consumers' opinions on the unemployment trend over the next 12 months remain unchanged.
On a personal level, they expressed a bit more caution regarding their future financial situations. Additionally, they revised their saving intentions very slightly upwards.
