The state-run Statistics Poland (GUS) agency said its Current Consumer Confidence Index, which describes current trends in personal consumption, went down by 0.4 points in March, slipping further into negative territory of "minus 15.2" points.
Polish consumers surveyed this month were less positive about their household finances than a month earlier, and their evaluation of the economy also deteriorated from February, according to Statistics Poland.
Compared with March last year, the Current Consumer Confidence Index was 2.9 points lower, the statistical office said earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the so-called Leading Consumer Confidence Index, which provides an insight into expected trends in personal consumption in the coming months, rose 1 point in March from February, to "minus 9.8" points, Statistics Poland reported.
It said that most components of that indicator improved, including how consumers evaluate their financial prospects and saving potential.
The Leading Consumer Confidence Index was 4.6 points lower in March than in the same month of 2024, the office reported.
Both consumer confidence indicators take values from -100 to +100. A positive value means that optimistic attitudes prevail among consumers, while a negative value indicates a prevalence of pessimistic views.
The latest consumer sentiment study was conducted between March 3 and 12.
Nearly 61 percent of those surveyed said their responses were impacted by "the current situation in Ukraine," Statistics Poland reported.
(gs)
Source: PAP, stat.gov.pl