The consumer confidence index is a concept which is used to try to predict private consumption on the basis of surveys. The questions in the European Commission survey are divided into five categories: (1) the financial situation of households; (2) the outlook for the financial situation of households; (3) the current general economic situation; (4) the outlook for the general economic situation; (5) the desirability of purchasing durable goods. The questions relate to a one-year period.