Latest business and consumer survey results published by Statistics Estonia

The business and consumer surveys reflect economic confidence in four business sectors and among consumers. A confidence indicator* is calculated for each sector based on the survey responses. These indicators are used for economic forecasting and international comparisons, among other things.

The results of the May survey show that the confidence indicator was the highest in the trade sector (+14). The confidence indicator was -0.1 for the services sector and -0.9 for the industry sector. The construction sector had the lowest confidence indicator (-17.1), with insufficient demand cited as the main factor limiting activity. The consumer confidence indicator was -31 in May. Confidence improved month on month as well as year on year among consumers and in the industry, trade and services sectors, while construction enterprises’ assessments were more pessimistic.

Until April 2026, the business and consumer surveys were conducted by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research, and the earlier results are available on their website. Kaire Raasik, Head of the Economic and Environmental Statistics Department at Statistics Estonia, explained that the surveys conducted by the Estonian Institute of Economic Research and by Statistics Estonia are based on a common methodological framework established by the European Commission as the commissioning institution. “The partner institute is allowed to determine certain elements of the survey – for example, whether to use random sampling, panel sampling or another sampling method, or whether the results will be calculated based on the collected answers or whether weighting will be used to cover consumers and enterprises not included in the sample. All of these nuances may influence the results and, therefore, the latest data and the earlier data are not 100% comparable,” said Raasik, adding that this is not unusual in the case of surveys that have been carried out for many years. Raasik recommended reading the survey metadata for information about breaks in the time series and about any major methodological changes.

Statistics Estonia uses random sampling based on state registers for all of its surveys. The same applies to the business and consumer surveys. Invitations to participate in the survey were sent to 6,000 individuals (including 2,000 respondents for phone interviews) and 1,450 enterprises in the trade, industry, services and construction sectors.

Raasik thanked all respondents for their participation which ensured that the first data collection was successful. “The success of the survey depends on the respondents’ contribution in more ways than one. Firstly, each respondent in the random sample represents not only themselves but also several other individuals or entities. Secondly, the business and consumer surveys are used to assess current economic tendencies – this means that the survey can be answered within a limited period, as the data are published already at the end of the same month. Also, this is the only way to collect information about consumers’ perceptions of the economic situation,” she said. Based on the participants’ feedback, it takes only up to five minutes to complete the questionnaire.

The survey data are available to all users (including analysts, policymakers, the media) in the statistical database under “Multidomain statistics / Business and consumer tendency surveys”. For a more detailed overview, see the methodology reports of the consumer survey and the business survey.

The surveys are commissioned by the European Commission and carried out in all European Union countries. The international data will be published on 28 May on the Commission’s website, which will allow comparing the economic situation in Estonia with that of other countries.

The next survey round begins on 1 June. More information about the surveys is available on our website:

Consumer Survey

Business Survey

The business and consumer surveys are co-financed under the Joint Harmonised European Union Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, pursuant to the Framework Partnership Agreement BCS-2025-FPA and Specific Grant Agreement BCS-2025-SGA.

For further information:

Annaliisa Köss
Media Relations Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 648
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)

* Each confidence indicator is calculated on the basis of answers to specific questions. For example, the consumer confidence indicator is the arithmetic average of the balances of the answers to the questions on the past (last 12 months) and expected (next 12 months) financial situation of households, the expected general economic situation and the intentions to make major purchases. The construction confidence indicator is the arithmetic average of the balances of the answers to the questions on current order books and employment expectations. See Statistics Estonia’s website for more information about the consumer and business confidence indicators.

Balances are the difference between positive and negative answers expressed as percentages.

Example: calculation of the construction confidence indicator

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