The UBS consumption indicator rose from 1.20 to 1.41 points in April, primarily due to brightening consumer sentiment and improving figures in the retail sector.

Zurich/Basel, 29 May 2012 – The UBS consumption indicator continued its strong upward trend in April, rising to an index level of 1.41 points compared to 1.20 points in the previous month. The main factors behind this increase were a further rise in the number of new car registrations (+4.5 percent compared to the same month last year) and significantly brightening consumer sentiment. Business activity in the retail sector also showed positive figures in April for the first time since June 2011, which was another supporting factor for the indicator.

With 1.41 points, the consumption indicator has reached its highest level since June 2011, just slightly below its long-term average of 1.50 points. The consumption indicator is influenced by Swiss residents' overnight stays in hotels in Switzerland, credit card transactions and business activity in the retail sector, primarily measuring Swiss private consumption. Due to the strong franc, many Swiss residents currently spend their vacations abroad rather than in Switzerland and make more purchases abroad. This leads UBS economists to believe that the current index level is underestimating actual consumption in Switzerland.

This is also apparent in a study by the International Monetary Fund, which estimates the value of goods purchased from abroad in 2011, either directly or online, at 12 to 14 billion Swiss francs. Based on these figures, Swiss private consumption in 2011 would show growth of 1.6 percent instead of 0.9 percent.

Calculation of the UBS Consumption Indicator
The UBS Consumption Indicator signals private consumption trends in Switzerland with a lead time of about three months on the official figures. At roughly 60%, private consumption is by far the most important component of Swiss GDP. UBS calculates this leading indicator from five consumer-related parameters: new car registrations, business activity in the retail sector, the number of domestic overnight hotel stays by Swiss residents, the consumer sentiment index, and credit card transactions made via UBS at points of sale in Switzerland. With the exception of the consumersentiment index, all of this data is available monthly.


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