Global disruptions, local reactions

Key Insights during lunch break

3rd June 2025 at 12:30 pm (online)

Speaker:
Rolf Bürkl, Head of Consumer Climate, NIM
Dr. Anja Bauer, Senior Researcher - Consumer Climate, NIM

Topic:
Global trade conflicts and political turbulence are increasingly shaping the economic environment. But how do consumers in Germany, the UK and the USA perceive these uncertainties? And how are these developments reflected in the consumer climate?
We shared the following findings in this Online-Session:

• Comparison of the consumer climate in Germany, the UK and the USA:
  How high is the level of uncertainty in the individual countries? What trends can be identified?
• Deep dives into the propensity to save:
  What motivates people when they are openly asked about their willingness to save in uncertain times? What differences can be seen between the markets?
• Special survey on the economy and stock markets:
  How do consumers assess the risk of recession? How does the current customs policy influence consumers' assessment of the labor market? What impact does turbulence on the stock markets have on the financial situation and future expectations of households in the three countries?

About the GfK Consumer Climate powered by NIM:
The GfK Consumer Climate survey, which is being conducted regularly since 1974 and monthly 1980, is regarded as an important indicator of German consumer behavior and a guiding light for Germany's economic development. The Consumer Climate is based on about 2,000 monthly consumer interviews that are conducted on behalf of the European Commission.

Since October 2023, the consumer climate data collected by GfK is being analyzed and published jointly with the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM). By joining forces, it will be possible to invest further in the analysis and development of the Consumer Climate study to gain an even better understanding of the background to changes in consumer confidence.