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Consumer confidence in Finland remained at a low level during October, according to figures published on Monday by Statistics Finland. The data-crunching agency's survey found that this month's Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) stood at-7.6, having been -6.6 in September and -7.6 in August. "Expectations concerning both consumers' own and Finland's economy in 12 months remained unchanged but subdued at the same time," the report noted. The survey also revealed there is very little expectation that Finland's bleak unemployment situation will improve over the coming 12 months, with only 15 percent of respondents saying they believe the jobless rate of over 10 percent will decrease. By contrast, nearly 60 percent said they think the situation will deteriorate further before it gets any better. An increasing number of respondents also noted that they felt the personal threat of being made redundant or temporarily laid-off was ever greater, although just over a third said they saw no such risk in their own careers. In compiling the report, Statistics Finland surveyed the views of 1,128 people living in Finland between 1 and 19 October. A survey of business owners carried out by the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) also found that confidence remained low during October, with construction sector firms being particularly downbeat about future prospects.
