Consumer barometer
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Consumer barometer survey
The Consumer barometer survey focuses on tracking business cycles (expansion, peak, recession, trough) and estimating future economic development even before releasing the official results on macroeconomic development.
What is the aim of the survey?
The main aim of the surveys is to show how the participants of business processes (entrepreneurs and consumers) perceive, evaluate and interpret individual business processes and their changes. Data are obtained from questionnaires completed by respondents, on the expression of their own feelings, a description of the state and changes occurring in the life of the respondent and in his surroundings, how they currently perceive the economic situation (both their own and the state), which processes please them, which on the contrary, they are worried about, how will they react to the given circumstances and what financial measures they plan to apply in these contexts.
The results of the surveys are valuable information needed by the authorities governing business processes (governments, banks at the national and European level). The adopted acts, measures and changes in the business environment are reflected in the general social atmosphere and public opinion. Citizens perceive these circumstances sensitively and adapt their consumer behavior to them, and their consumer is retrospectively affects the national economy.
When and where will the survey take place?
Surveys are conducted monthly, always in the first decade of the given month. On the basis of free quota selection, 1 200 persons are included in the sample every month.
Who will answer the questions?
The respondents of the survey are all persons living in the household.
What will we ask?
The survey concerns three main areas, namely:
- Macroeconomic indicators,
- Family management,
- Investment plans of household.
By means of the questions, we inquire about how citizens assess the general economic situation in the country, estimate the further development of the economy, perceive the development of prices of goods and services, estimate the development of unemployment, perceive the conditions for the purchase of durable household items, perceive the saving opportunities in the country, assess financial conditions in their household, how they plan and expect the possibility of investing in movable and immovable property.
How are the household data provided to the Office protected?
All collected data are used exclusively for the needs of state statistics, are confidential and protected according to Slovak and European legislation. The final statistical information is always published in an aggregated form and the data on a specific household and on persons is non-identifiable from them.
Can the respondent refuse to fill out the questionnaire?
The competence of the Statistical Office of the SR to collect data is generally regulated by national legislation, namely the Act No. 540/2001 coll. on state statistics in the current version.
The survey is part of the international Joint Harmonized Program of Consumer and Business Surveys, which involves all EU member states and candidate countries and is coordinated and co-financed by the European Commission.
We appreciate the willingness of all respondents participating in the surveys, because they help to identify the enterprise's problems and obtain high quality and reliable information. They thus contribute to the solutions and positive changes.
How will the questionnaire be completed? How will the survey be conducted?
- The interviewer of the Statistical Office of the SR contacts the selected household on the basis of quota selection, while selecting a particular household at random. If the interviewers did not select the respondents randomly, certain distortions may arise in the structure of the research sample, adversely affecting the research results.
- The interviewer of the Statistical Office of the SR will present himself at the personal meeting with a special authorization and ID card.
- Interviews are recorded in a paper questionnaire (PAPI) or in an electronic form on a tablet (CAPI).
- A personal meeting is an advantage, it speeds up the filling out of the questionnaire, enables its more accurate and comprehensive completion (interviewers are trained in survey methodologies).
When and where the results will be available after their processing?
After processing, the results are published in the products of the Statistical Office of the SR, namely:
- In the public database DATAcube. in the chapter 2.4.– Business consumer surveys and consumer opinions
- In annual information reports in the release dates by the First Release Calendar , which will be available in the Catalogue of information reports
- In the quaterly publication Consumer barometer
Where can I find the results from previous surveys?
The results from the previous Consumer barometer survey are available in various statistical outputs.
For the SR:
- In the publications in the Catalogue of publications:
Spotrebiteľský barometer II./2023
Spotrebiteľský barometer I./2023 - In the public database Datacube. at the website in the chapter
2.4. – Business consumer surveys and consumer opinions
For the EU:
- In the Eurostat database in the chapter Euro indicators