Finnish confidence on high after years of stagnation

Finland’s consumers are more optimistic today than when Nokia dominated the mobile phone world.

Consumer sentiment rose to 24.1 in May, the highest reading since records began in 1995, Statistics Finland said. Business confidence improved to plus-8, the highest in six years, the Confederation of Finnish Industries in Helsinki said in a separate statement.

“A strong growth period is underway,” Hypo Chief Economist Juhana Brotherus said. “The positive news coverage on the Finnish economy has lasted for a while and that has strengthened confidence in the economy.”