Consumer sentiment recovers slightly – schuhkurier

Consumer sentiment at the end of the year recently recovered slightly. This emerges from the current results of the “Gfk consumer climate powered by NIM”. In addition to a positive development in income expectations and the propensity to buy, the declining propensity to save is particularly contributing to the recovery of the consumer climate. The latter fell to 5.9 points compared to the previous month, a drop of six points. “After the slump in the previous month, consumer sentiment is improving slightly, but can only partially compensate for the previous declines,” says Rolf Bürkl, consumer expert at NIM. “At -21.3 points, the consumer climate remains at a very low level. Looking back, we have seen, at best, stagnating development since mid-2024.”

Gfk and NIM are adjusting their forecasts for the coming year: The consumer climate in January is estimated at a value of -21.3 points, revised from -23.1 points and thus increased by 1.8 points. “A sustainable recovery in the consumer climate is still not in sight; the uncertainty among consumers is currently too great,” continued Bürkl. “The main cause is the high food and energy prices. In addition, concerns about job security are increasing in many areas.”