In a rebound from the start of the year, the state-run statistics agency said its Current Consumer Confidence Index, which describes current trends in personal consumption, went up by 0.5 points in April, while remaining in negative territory of “minus 22.5” points.
Polish consumers surveyed last month were more positive about the economy than a month earlier, and their evaluation of their own financial condition also improved slightly from March, according to the Central Statistical Office.
Compared with April last year, the Current Consumer Confidence Index was 13.9 points higher, 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 by 0.4 points in April from March, to “minus 19.8” points, the Central Statistical Office reported.
It added that several components of that indicator improved, including how consumers evaluate the future level of unemployment. However, respondents were less positive than a month earlier about the future financial situation of their households.
The Leading Consumer Confidence Index was 27.9 points higher in April than in the same month of 2020, 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 April 6 and 15.
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.
In April last year, consumer sentiment in Poland plunged to its lowest level since 2004 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
(gs)
Source: PAP, stat.gov.pl