After signs of a rebound earlier this year, the state-run statistics agency said its Current Consumer Confidence Index, which describes current trends in personal consumption, dropped by 9.2 points in November from October, showing a negative reading of “minus 29.2” points.
Polish consumers surveyed this month were less positive about the prospects of the economy than a month earlier, and their evaluation of their own financial condition also worsened from October, according to the Central Statistical Office.
Compared with November last year, the Current Consumer Confidence Index was 35.9 points lower, the statistical office said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the so-called Leading Consumer Confidence Index, which provides an insight into expected trends in personal consumption in the coming months, fell by 10.9 points in November from October, to “minus 30.1” points, the Central Statistical Office reported.
It added that all the components of that indicator declined, including how consumers evaluate the future level of unemployment and the future financial situation of their own households and the economy as a whole.
The Leading Consumer Confidence Index was 32.3 points lower in November than in the same month of 2019, 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 November 2 and 12. More than 90 percent of those surveyed said their responses were impacted by "the current epidemiological situation" in the country, the Central Statistical Office reported.
Poland on Thursday confirmed 23,975 fresh coronavirus infections and a record 637 new deaths, its worst daily toll since the start of the pandemic.
A total of 796,798 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Poland since the pandemic began, and 12,088 have died in connection with the COVID-19 respiratory disease so far, public health officials announced.
Tougher measures to battle COVID-19 came into effect across Poland earlier this month following a surge in cases amid a second wave of the pandemic.
Shopping malls have been ordered to limit their operations until at least November 29, though some retail outlets, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and drugstores, are allowed to stay open to customers.
Hotels are only able to take in guests on business trips. Theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries have been told to close temporarily.
Meanwhile, pubs, restaurants and cafes are only allowed to provide take-aways and delivery orders.
In April, consumer sentiment in Poland had plunged to its lowest level since 2004, according to a report.
(gs/pk)
Source: PAP, stat.gov.pl