Swiss Consumer Confidence Weakens To 16-month Low

(RTTNews) - Swiss consumer confidence decreased further in April to the lowest level in nearly one and a half years amid a weak economic outlook, monthly survey results from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, showed on Friday.

The consumer sentiment index dropped to -42.4 in March from -35.0 in the previous month. Moreover, the index also worsened from the previous year's reading of -38.1.

Further, this was the lowest reading since December 2023, when it was -44.3.

Among the four components, the economic outlook index fell sharply to -66.5 from -21.2 last year. The remaining three indices showed an improvement, though they remained negative.

The index for past financial situation of households rose to -42.1 from -57.6, and their financial outlook index improved somewhat to -33.0 from -36.2.

The survey revealed that consumers' desire to make major purchases also showed some signs of recovery in April, with the index rising to -28.0 from -37.2.