Economics
Record House Prices, Jobs Growth Not Enough to Keep Dutch Happy
- Tax increase came into effect, denting consumer confidence
- Global factors also at play in declining household sentiment
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Dutch consumers have taken a sales-tax increase badly, sending their confidence plunging at the fastest pace since the European debt crisis.
A drop in sentiment in January dragged the index to the lowest in four years. The decline, while in line with weakness in sentiment seen across Europe, is in sharp contrast with other Dutch indicators: unemployment is falling and house prices are at a record high.