OREANDA-NEWS. Consumer confidence of Ukrainians remained almost unchanged in January 2013. The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in January is 84.9 p., which is 0.2 p. lower than in December 2012. The stability of the Consumer Confidence Index in January against a seasonal decrease in the propensity to consume enabled the considerable rise in expectations as to the changes in personal financial standing. It is proved by the data of the Consumer Confidence Survey in Ukraine, which is conducted by GfK Ukraine on a monthly basis.

In January 2013, the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell by 0.2 p. to 84.9.

Index of Current Situation fell to the level of 83, which is 5.3 p. lower than in December 2012.

The components of this index changed in the following way:
Index of Current Personal Financial Standing (х1) lost 1.5 p. and reached 84.8;
Propensity to Consume (х5) fell by 9.2 p. to 81.2.

Economic Expectations of the Population improved to 86.1 p., which is 3.2 p. higher than in December. The components of this index changed as follows:
Index of Expected Changes in Personal Financial Standing (х2) gained 10.7 p. to 99.1;
Index of Expected Economic Conditions in the Country over the Next Year (х3) is 78.9, which is 1.0 p. lower than in December;
Index of Expected Economic Conditions in the Country over the Next Five Years (х4) remained almost unchanged: the respective index is 80.4 p.; it is 0.1 p. lower than in December 2012.

At the beginning of 2013, Ukrainians became more optimistic regarding the unemployment dynamics: the respective index is 131.7; it is 3.3 p. lower than in December 2012. Index of Inflationary Expectations somewhat improved and reached 183.7, which is 1.8 p. lower than in December. However, Ukrainians became more concerned over hryvnia exchange rate in the next three months: index of devaluation expectations of Ukrainians gained 3.4 p. to 139.5.

The following key trends were observed in January:
The stability of the Consumer Confidence Index in January against a seasonal decrease in the propensity to consume enabled the considerable rise in expectations as to the changes in personal financial standing. This trend was representative of all socio-demographic groups.
At the same time, the index of Expected Changes in Personal Financial Standing in January was 20 p. higher than the Index of Expected Economic Conditions in the Country over the Next Year, which remained unchanged in comparison with the level in December.
However, after the rise observed in November-December the Index of Unemployment and Devaluation Expectations improved in January.
Strongest decline of consumer confidence was observed in the Western region; though the highest increase was seen in the Eastern region.

‘Economic recession of the last months of 2012 did not impact the way the Ukrainians see their financial standing. However, economic expectations remain low and restrain the rise of Consumer Confidence Index’, as the GfK Ukraine analysts comment.