Scottish Consumer Sentiment Indicator: 2025 Quarter 3
An official statistics publication.
The latest results for consumer sentiment in Scotland based on a quarterly survey of households’ current sentiment and future expectations of economic performance, household finances and attitudes to spending.
Part of
Results Breakdown
Composite Indicator
In Q3 2025, the Scottish Consumer Sentiment Indicator rose by 0.6 points to -8.3 indicating a strengthening in sentiment over the quarter. The indicator is nonetheless lower than its average since Q2 2013 (-2.1).
Three of the five sub-indicators of sentiment strengthened over the quarter, covering current and expected household financial situation as well as current attitudes to spending. The two other sub-indicators, covering current and expected economic performance, fell over the quarter.
The main driver of the strengthening sentiment over the quarter came from an increase in consumers’ attitudes to spending, albeit it remains the lowest of all the sub-indicators of sentiment.
Figure 2: The strengthening in the Consumer Sentiment Indicator in the third quarter of 2025 came from a rise in sentiment on current and expected household finances and spending attitudes.
|
Results (Net Balances) |
Latest Quarter (Q3 2025) |
Previous Quarter (Q2 2025) |
Change between Q2 2025 and Q3 2025 |
|
Consumer Sentiment composite indicator |
-8.3 |
-8.9 |
0.6 |
|
Current indicators |
Empty cell |
Empty cell |
Empty cell |
|
(a) Economy performance |
-5.9 |
-4.8 |
-1.1 |
|
(c) Households’ finances |
-8.6 |
-10.4 |
1.7 |
|
(e) Attitude to spending |
-19.6 |
-22.8 |
3.2 |
|
Expectation indicators |
Empty cell |
Empty cell |
Empty Cell |
|
(b) Economy performance - next 12 months |
-3.6 |
-1.6 |
-2.0 |
|
(d) Households’ finances - next 12 months |
-3.8 |
-5.0 |
1.2 |
|
Note: The consumer sentiment indicator score is the average of the net balances for each question topic. The net balance is the difference between the percentage of respondents reporting an improvement and those reporting a weakening. Scores are subject to rounding therefore differences in scores over the quarter may not sum. |
|||
Economic Performance
The Economic Performance indicators reflect how respondents consider Scotland’s economy is currently performing relative to 12 months earlier and how they expect it will be performing in 12 months’ time relative to current performance.
Figure 3: The current and expected economic performance indicators fell over the quarter.
Consumer Sentiment, economic performance indicators, quarterly net balance, Q2 2013 to Q3 2025.
The net balance of Scotland's current economic performance indicator in Q3 2025 was -5.9, implying that households, on balance, consider current economic performance to be weaker than 12 months ago. Furthermore, curret economic performance sentiment weakened by 1.1 points and by 11.6 points compared to Q3 2024.
The net balance of Scotland’s expected economic performance indicator was -3.6, implying that households, on balance, expect economic performance to weaken over the next 12 months. Furthermore, expected economic performance sentiment weakened by 2.0 points over the quarter and by 17.3 points compared to Q3 2024.
Household Finances
The Household Finances indicators reflect how secure respondents consider their current household financial position to be relative to 12 months earlier and how secure they expect it to be in 12 months’ time relative to its current position.
Figure 4: The current and expected households’ finances indicators rose over the quarter.
Consumer Sentiment, household finances indicators, quarterly net balance, Q2 2013 to Q3 2025.
The net balance of the current household financial security indicator was -8.6 in Q3 2025, implying that households, on balance, consider their current financial conditions to be less secure than 12 months ago. Sentiment on current household financial security strengthened by 1.7 points over the quarter but weakened by 3.9 points compared to Q3 2024.
The net balance of the expected household financial security indicator was -3.8 in Q3 2025, implying that households, on balance, expect their future household finances will become less secure over the next 12 months. Sentiment on expected household financial security strengthened by 1.2 points over the quarter but fell by 2.3 points compared to Q3 2024.
Household Spending
The Household Spending indicator reflects how relaxed respondents currently feel about spending money relative to 12 months earlier.
Figure 5: The attitudes to spending indicator rose over the quarter.
Consumer Sentiment, attitudes to spending, quarterly net balance, Q2 2013 to Q3 2025.
The net balance of the current attitudes to spending indicator was ‑19.6 in Q3 2025, implying that households, on balance, feel less relaxed about spending money than 12 months ago. Attitudes to spending sentiment strengthened by 3.2 points over the quarter but fell by 5.5 points compared to Q3 2024.