The state-run Statistics Poland (GUS) agency said its Current Consumer Confidence Index, which describes current trends in personal consumption, edged up by 0.4 points in March, while remaining in negative territory of “minus 35.6” points.
Polish consumers surveyed this month were more positive about their financial prospects than a month earlier, and their evaluation of business trends also improved from February, according to Statistics Poland.
The Current Consumer Confidence Index was 3.4 points higher than in March last year, the statistical office said.
Meanwhile, the so-called Leading Consumer Confidence Index, which provides an insight into expected trends in personal consumption in the coming months, rose 2.7 points in March from February, to “minus 22.6” points, Statistics Poland reported.
It added that all components of that indicator improved, including how consumers evaluate the financial prospects of their households and the future level of unemployment. Respondents were also more positive than a month earlier about the future condition of the economy.
The Leading Consumer Confidence Index was 8.9 points higher in March than in the same month of 2022, 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 6 and 15.
More than 67 percent of those surveyed said their responses were impacted by "the current situation in Ukraine," Statistics Poland reported.
Thursday is day 393 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: PAP, stat.gov.pl
