This improvement marks a significant recovery in sentiment over the past year, with consumers showing reduced pessimism about the economy despite lingering uncertainties. The economic expectations index climbed to -30.1 from -51.9 in October 2023, signaling that consumers foresee a somewhat brighter outlook for future economic conditions, even if challenges remain.
Notably, expectations regarding personal finances also showed improvement, with the index reaching -33.6 compared to -52.4 a year prior, reflecting increased confidence about income stability and purchasing power. The assessment of whether it’s an excellent time to make significant purchases improved, rising to -31.5 from -41, suggesting that consumers are more willing to consider more enormous expenditures as economic pressures moderate.
In addition, consumers’ views on their past financial situation were slightly more positive, with the index moving up to -52.8 from -64.8, indicating a gradual recovery in economic stability. While consumer sentiment is still below positive territory, the data points to cautious optimism and suggests that Swiss households are seeing signs of improvement, potentially boosting domestic demand and supporting the broader economic recovery.
