Global consumer confidence slipped for a fourth straight week as soaring natural gas prices in Europe weighed heavily on households. Morning Consult’s four‑week moving average of its Global Index of Consumer Sentiment fell 0.56 points to 97.29, extending a decline that began at a July 26 peak of 99.77.
Europe bears the brunt
While the share of declining markets worldwide fell from 71% on Aug. 9 to 60% this week, Europe’s share rose to 79%, with 15 of the 19 tracked markets posting lower four‑week averages. Winter gas contracts are trading at roughly double last year’s levels, and regional storage is only 63% full – the lowest seasonal figure recorded since 2009, according to Bloomberg.
Delayed tank refills, hot summer demand and reliance on the Strait of Hormuz – which moves about one‑fifth of global liquefied natural gas shipments – have left European reserves thin as autumn approaches.
Country‑by‑country snapshot
Europe’s overall moving average slipped 1.02 points to 78.22. Germany posted the sharpest one‑month drop, falling 2.53 points to 68.23 – an 11% decline over the past month. Spain fell 1.13 points to 83.83, Italy dropped 0.47 points to 70.76, and France remained near 63.55.
Only Poland and the Czech Republic posted gains, holding steady baselines.
Other regions hold steady or improve
In the Americas, the United States held virtually flat for a fourth week at 90.42, the most stable major market in the survey. Mexico rose 0.65 points to 109.53 and Peru gained 0.58 points to 118.07, leading regional gains. Brazil slipped 0.51 points to 117.09 and Colombia eased 0.25 points to 122.36. Chile remained the lowest‑scoring market in the hemisphere at 82.75, followed by Argentina at 85.53 after a second straight weekly fall.
In Asia‑Pacific, China’s four‑week average edged down 0.07 points to 158.41 after eight consecutive weekly drops, while its raw weekly reading rebounded 1.7 points to 157.63. Japan advanced 0.67 points to 64.98, Thailand rose 0.52 points to 100.28, Singapore fell 2.83 points to 98.27, Australia slipped 3.44 points to 79.79, and South Korea fell 1.49 points to 84.49, though raw weekly numbers for both turned upward.
Middle East and Africa
The United Arab Emirates gained 1.20 points to 150.65, the largest increase in the dataset. Saudi Arabia held steady at 151.41. Egypt declined 1.47 points to 119.52, marking its fourth consecutive weekly drop. Israel fell 0.53 points to 96.80, Turkey eased 0.59 points to 66.06, and Nigeria rose 0.73 points to 118.42.
Overall, the global sentiment index remains 4.1 points above its April 19 low of 93.20, suggesting that while Europe’s energy crunch is pulling the average down, the broader world economy retains some resilience.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
