2026.08.1310:00:00UTC+00Hungary’s Consumer Sentiment Slips in August as PCSI Falls Below 50

Hungary’s consumer confidence weakened in August 2026, with the Thomson Reuters IPSOS Primary Consumer Sentiment Index (PCSI) declining to 48.60 from 52.08 in July 2026. The latest reading, updated on 13 August 2026, marks a month‑over‑month deterioration and pushes the indicator below the 50-point level, often viewed as a threshold between broadly positive and negative sentiment.

The August downturn contrasts with July’s stronger position, when the index stood at 52.08, indicating comparatively more optimistic consumer attitudes toward the economic environment. According to the month‑over‑month comparison framework, the current figure reflects a weaker perception of economic conditions relative to the previous month, while the July reading itself represented an improvement over June.

The negative shift suggests that Hungarian households may be growing more cautious about spending, savings, or job security heading into late summer. While the PCSI does not explain the drivers behind the move, the pullback in August underscores a more fragile mood among consumers compared with mid‑summer levels.