2017.09.2702:30:00UTC+00Finland Consumer Confidence Improves For Second Month

Finland's consumer confidence improved for the second straight month in September, figures from Statistics Finland showed Wednesday.

The consumer sentiment index rose to 23.7 in September from 23.5 in August. In July, the score was 22.8

The survey was conducted among 1,214 households between September 1 and 19.

In September, 46 percent of consumers believed that Finland's economic situation would improve in the coming twelve months, while 9 percent of them thought that the country's economy would deteriorate.

Households' expectations regarding their own financial situation for the next year strengthened in September. The corresponding index rose to 9.5 in September from 8.4 in the prior month.

Altogether, 48 percent of consumers thought in September that unemployment would decrease over the year, while 16 percent of them believed it would increase.

Consumers predicted in September that consumer prices would go up by 1.7 percent over the next 12 months.

Another survey report released by the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK showed that business confidence of Finnish manufacturing companies improved in September.

The business confidence indicator increased to 10.0 in September from 7.0 in August. Moreover, it remained well above the long-term average of 1.0.