Consumer sentiment falls as personal finance outlook poor

THE consumer mood weakened last month with more than two-thirds of people saying their finances worsened last year.

The latest KBC/ESRI consumer sentiment index fell in December to 44.4 from 48.4 in November and 53.3 in December 2009. The November reading still remains above the all-time low in July 2008 of 39.6. Roughly two-thirds of respondents see the numbers out of work rising in 2011.

KBC economist Austin Hughes said a drop in consumer sentiment in December was to be expected given that the survey period included the EU/IMF deal and Budget 2011.