Method description GfK Consumer Climate Europe

The results from the GfK Euro Climate are taken from a consumer survey carried out in all the European Union countries on behalf of the EU Commission. In the 27 countries approximately 40,000 persons are surveyed on a monthly basis. They are representative for the adult population in the EU. The monthly interviews break down to countries as follows:

Austria	1,500
Bulgaria	1,000
Czech Republic	1,000
France	3,300
Germany	2,000
Greece	1,500
Italy	2,000
Poland	1,000
Portugal	2,100
Romania	1,000
Spain	2,000
United Kingdom	2,000

The GfK indicators on the Euro Climate are consumer sentiment surveys taken monthly. 00They deal with the general economic situation in the individual countries and the situation of the individual households.

Collection methods

The questions on the Euro Climate are carried out in a monthly omnibus study. It is a survey dealing with several issues implemented either by telephone or face-to-face, i.e. in the context of a personal survey.

From the monthly range of 12 questions, 5 questions are selected for the GfK Euro Climate, those which play a decisive role for the consumer climate.

Calculation of the selected five indicators development of the economy, expectations on inflation and income as well as buying and saving propensity.

The basis of calculating the indicators are so-called totals. Here the share of consumers who give a positive response (e.g. the financial situation of the household will improve (considerably) is subtracted from the share of those with negative responses (e.g. the financial situation of the household will worsen (considerably).

In a further stage, this total is standardized using standard statistical methods and then transformed so that the long-term average of the indicator is 0 points and there is a theoretical value range of +100 to -100 points. However, on an empirical basis, since 1980 generally figures between +60 and -60 points are realistic.

If an indicator is positive, the assessment of this variable shows an above-average assessment of the consumers in a long-term comparison. The situation is similar for negative values. Standardization means that it is easier to compare indicators of different countries as level differences in response behavior resulting from different mentalities are compensated for. At the same time, fundamental trend of the indicator is not changed.

Information on the countries below is available in the local language: