Dutch economists recommend using social media as confidence indicator

Facebook and Twitter messages in Netherlands and UK offer sentiment insight

Social media logos on a keyboard

Public comments on social media could be used to "harvest" insight on changes in consumer confidence before the results of more formal surveys are published, according to research published by the European Central Bank (ECB).

Economists Piet Daas and Marco Puts, from Statistics Netherlands, compare a database of messages posted on social media websites (mainly Facebook and Twitter) with monthly consumer confidence surveys.

They find the two are "highly correlated", and propose that policy-makers

Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.

To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@centralbanking.com or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.centralbanking.com/subscribe

You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@centralbanking.com to find out more.

Sorry, our subscription options are not loading right now

Please try again later. Get in touch with our customer services team if this issue persists.

New to Central Banking? View our subscription options

Register for Central Banking

All fields are mandatory unless otherwise highlighted

This address will be used to create your account

You need to sign in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Central Banking account, please register for a trial.

Sign in
You are currently on corporate access.

To use this feature you will need an individual account. If you have one already please sign in.

Sign in.

Alternatively you can request an individual account

.