Slovakia Consumer Morale Improves in September

Slovakia’s consumer confidence indicator rose by 3.6 points to -22.1 in October 2026, marking its highest level since March 2025. The reading was also 0.7 points higher than in the same period last year, although it remained 2.2 points below its long-term average. Consumers’ assessments of all four components of the indicator improved, with the most pronounced improvement seen in unemployment prospects (26.0 vs 32.3 in September). Consumers also expressed more favorable expectations regarding the overall economic situation (-34.9 vs -38.7), their financial situation (-8.3 vs -11.2), and savings (-19.0 vs -20.4). Among other forward-looking indicators, inflation expectations eased (25.0 vs 28.2), while expectations for major purchases also improved (-23.6 vs -26.0).

Slovakia’s consumer confidence indicator improved to -25.7 in September 2026 from -28.0 in August, marking the strongest reading since February 2026. The improvement was mainly driven by reduced pessimism about unemployment prospects (32.3 vs 35.4 in August) and households’ expected savings (-20.4 vs -22.6). Meanwhile, sentiment toward households’ expected financial situation strengthened (-11.2 vs -12.5), while the outlook for the broader economy also improved (-38.7 vs -41.3). Among other indicators, inflation expectations eased (28.2 vs. 32.4). However, sentiment toward conditions for major purchases deteriorated (-17.8 vs. -15.3), while expectations for major purchases also weakened (-26.0 vs. -24.9).

Slovakia’s consumer confidence indicator fell to -28 in August 2026 from -27.4 in the previous month, marking its lowest level since May. The reading was 8.1 points below the long-term average and 3.6 points lower than a year earlier, pointing to a further deterioration in consumer sentiment. That was mainly due to increased pessimism about unemployment prospects (35.4 vs 33.2 in July) and expectations for savings (-22.6 vs -21.3). However, sentiment toward households’ expected financial situation improved slightly (-12.5 vs -13.2), as did the outlook for the broader economy (-41.3 vs -41.8). Among other indicators, inflation expectations eased marginally (32.4 vs 33), while sentiment toward major purchases in the future also improved (-24.9 vs -25.7).