The rule seen in recent years of an improvement in consumer moods in August following a downturn in July also held true this year. As a result the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) climbed to its highest 2009 level, growing by 8 points to reach 87.3.

The index reflecting willingness to buy (at 96.1 points) continues to be well above consumers’ ratings of the economic climate (74.1 points), although during the last month higher growth was noted for the latter – rising by 9 points. August saw a 7-point increase in the willingness to buy index, leading to a situation where there are only slightly more consumers with a pessimistic outlook than there are optimists.

The improvement in consumers’ ratings for the economy is a result of a decline in the percentage saying the situation is worsening in favour of the numbers describing it as steady or forecasting it to remain so. As for households’ financial situation, there has been a drop in the percentage of consumers saying their situation is deteriorating, while expectations are similar to those of last month.

Observation of the cyclic nature of the Consumer Confidence Index does not forebode any significant changes in its level in September. The situation on the job market will be particularly important for retaining the positive trends. In August the rise in consumer moods went hand in hand with an increase (by 7 points) in the share of consumers expecting the current level of unemployment to stabilise, together with a drop in the number expecting jobless figures to rise.