Consumer Confidence Index: Swiss invest in vacations and health

This is the result of the latest Consumer Confidence Index from Nielsen, a global performance management company that provides information and insights into consumers' media and consumption behavior. The Consumer Confidence Index tracks job prospects, the personal financial situation and the willingness of the Swiss to spend money, always with a view to the coming twelve months and in a European comparison. Globally, Nielsen has been studying consumer sentiment in 63 countries since 2005. The Consumer Confidence Index is still led by the Danes (115 points), followed by Turkey with 107 points.

"In the second quarter of 2017, the Swiss are more optimistic about the future than was the case a year ago," says Judith Kuiper, Managing Director of Nielsen Switzerland. "This is a clear sign that consumers consider the franc shock to have been largely overcome and are once again more positive about the future."

Positive assessment of the labor market situation throughout Europe

The Danes currently lead the ranking of job optimists in Europe. There, 68 percent rate their job prospects as good or very good. In the second quarter of 2017, 58 percent of the Swiss assessed their job prospects as (very) positive (Q4/2016: 59 percent). However, confidence in the labor market situation is high not only in Switzerland, but throughout Europe (+8 percent). "Job optimism is a key reason for the fundamentally positive consumer sentiment. The Swiss continue to assess their prospects on the labor market as good," Judith Kuiper notes.

Buying mood shows restraint

58 percent of the Swiss feel their personal finances are (very) good (+1 point compared with Q4/2016), but are cautious about their spending. 44 percent believe the next 12 months will be a good time to buy things they need and like (Europe 36 percent). This figure is down 6 percentage points compared with the fourth quarter of 2016.

Vacations - Swiss focus on recreation

A good consumer mood also makes for a pleasing consumer climate. For example, 47 percent of the Swiss say they spend their money on vacations after covering the cost of living. Supplementary health insurance comes second (37 percent), followed by savings (32 percent). This differs from the European average, which tends to save (37 percent), and only then thinks about vacations (36 percent) or new clothes (36 percent). "While other European countries tend to save more, the Swiss also like to treat themselves to something, but at the same time they also think about personal security, especially in the area of healthcare," Judith Kuiper summarizes.

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