Danish consumer mood slightly brighter

Danish consumer confidence saw a slight improvement in January compared to December, with the consumer confidence indicator from Statistics Denmark rising to -11.7 from the year’s low of -13.1 in the previous month. The increase is attributed to consumers perceiving their family’s current economic situation a bit more positively. Despite this rise, consumers remain ‘very worried’, according to Sydbank’s chief economist, Søren Kristensen. He suggests that consumers should feel more optimistic when considering the economic reality instead of media portrayals, noting that negative sentiment affects consumption and economic growth. Kristensen also implies that the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s presidency, including concerns about trade wars and US territorial expansion, has contributed to the gloom. The indicator is based on a survey reflecting Danish nationals’ views on their personal and national economy, with a negative value indicating pessimism that typically correlates with reduced buying interest.