Polish Consumer Mood Falls Below Forecast

Poland’s consumer sentiment indicator fell to -12.2 in March 2026 from -9.1 in February, well below market expectations of -9.5. Assessments of both the current (-22.4 vs -19.6) and future economic situation (-24.1 vs -13.9) worsened. Expectations for household financial conditions over the next twelve months also declined (-4.5 vs -2.4), alongside the perceived ability to make major purchases (-5.8 vs -4.2) and current money saving capacity (-3 vs -0.4). Meanwhile, the evaluation of households’ current financial situation (-4.4 vs -5.5) became less negative. Among components outside the main index, concerns about the unemployment rate eased (-23.1 vs -23.9), as did worries about price changes over the past 12 months (50.7 vs 53.3), while expectations for price trends over the next 12 months rose (33.3 vs 19.8). The leading consumer confidence indicator, tracking expected consumption trends, also declined 2.5 points to -9.5 in March 2026.

Poland’s consumer sentiment indicator rose to -9.1 in February 2026 from -9.6 in the previous month. Expectations for household financial conditions over the next 12 months became less pessimistic, with the index increasing to -2.4 from -2.8 in January. Similarly, views on the economic situation in the year ahead improved to -13.9 from -16.6. Spending intentions also strengthened, as consumers were less pessimistic about making major purchases in the coming year, with the index rising to -25.2 from -28.0. Meanwhile, price expectations for the next 12 months eased to 19.8 from 20.6, while expectations for future savings declined to 12.3 from 16. In addition, concerns about unemployment worsened slightly, with the index falling to -23.9 from -23.2. The leading consumer confidence indicator, which reflects expected consumption trends, edged down by 0.3 points to -7 from -6.7 in January 2026.

Poland’s consumer sentiment indicator rose to -9.6 in January 2026 from -9.9 in the previous month. Expectations regarding household financial conditions over the next twelve months were less negative, with the index rising to -2.8 from -4 in December, alongside a slight improvement in expectations for the economic situation in the coming year, which increased to -16.6 from -16.9. In addition, assessments of major purchases became less pessimistic, improving to -1 from -2.9, while the propensity to save jumped to 16 from 14.3. Concerns about future unemployment also eased, with the indicator moving to -23.2 from -21.5. In contrast, perceptions of current household financial conditions deteriorated slightly to -5.4 in January from -5.2 in the prior month, and assessments of the current economic situation worsened to -22.1 from -20.6. The leading consumer confidence indicator, which tracks expected consumption trends, increased by 0.3 percentage points to -6.7 in January 2025.