Finland shows growing long-term economic optimism despite low peace of mind

A study by Danske Bank titled ‘Economic Peace of Mind 2026’ reveals a shift in Finnish consumer sentiment. While the overall economic peace of mind index in Finland stands at 5.8—slightly lower than last year's 6.0—there is growing optimism regarding personal finances over the next five years. Approximately half of Finns believe their personal economic situation will be at least slightly better in five years, a level of confidence not seen since 2021.

Despite this long-term optimism, Finland remains the weakest performer among Nordic countries regarding economic peace of mind. Key concerns for Finnish households include inflation, rising unemployment, interest rate hikes, and declining housing prices. Kaisa Kivipelto, a retail economist at Danske Bank, noted that while concerns about income sufficiency are decreasing due to strengthened purchasing power, worries regarding assets and debt have increased.

The study, conducted between April and June, suggests that current sentiment might even be more positive if surveyed later, as geopolitical tensions in Iran and subsequent oil price spikes caused significant anxiety during the spring.